Thompson named to top state academic team

Thompson named to top state academic team
Susan Donohue selected for
PTK administrator award
Susan Donohue, general education director at the Forrest
County Center, will be honored as a Phi Theta Kappa
Distinguished College Administrator at the organization’s
international convention April 12-14 in Nashville.
“I am overwhelmed and very grateful,” she said. “It is, indeed, one of the highest compliments I have ever received.”
Donohue
taught
in
the
Hattiesburg Public School District
and at then-William Carey College
before coming to PRCC in 1983 as a
social scienes instructor in
Poplarville. She retired in 1999 but
returned to work for Pearl River on
a part-time basis at the Forrest
County Center.
She holds the bachelor of arts deDonohue
gree from Millsaps College and the
master of arts from George Peabody College, now
Vanderbilt University. She has also done additional study at
Michigan State University and the University of Southern
Mississippi.
Donohue was nominated for the award by the Beta Tau
Gamma PTK chapter at the Forrest County Center.
■ See more Phi Theta Kappa news, pages 3 and 5.
4 PRCC
students
cited for
academics
Thompson
POPLARVILLE - A Pearl River
Community College student was one of
15 chosen for the 2012 All-Mississippi
Academic First Team.
Debra Thompson was named to the select team sponsored by the Mississippi
Association of Community and Junior
Colleges, Mississippi
Community
College Board, The Clarion-Ledger newspaper and Phi Theta Kappa Honor
Society. As a member of the First Team,
she will receive a $1,000 stipend from
PRCC.
PRCC students named to the Second
Team are Alyssa Brand of Sumrall, Gineca
Garriga of Catahoula and Eddie Hodges
of Purvis.
Fifty-four students from Mississippi’s
15 community colleges are honored annually through selection to the AllMississippi Academic Teams. They were
honored on March 7 by both houses of
Brand
Garriga
the Mississippi Legislature and as guests
of the sponsors at a luncheon at the
Jackson Convention Complex.
Thompson, 41, is a general studies
major planning to continue her education
in dental hygiene before workings toward
a master’s degree in biology.
A graduate of Salmen High School in
Slidell, La., she is president of the Iota
Mu chapter of Phi Theta Kappa on the
Poplarville campus. She also represented
PRCC as the college’s student honoree at
the Higher Education Appreciation DayWorking for Academic Excellence events
on Feb. 28.
She is a Student Support Services
tutor, a member of the Honors
Leadership Forum and a Dean’s List
scholar. She carries a 3.81 GPA.
“Dreams are things that make futures,
give us something to work for and enjoy
along the way, to make new inventions,
discover cures, save lives, enrich lives,
build each other up and raise a generation
of people who love what they do and do it
well,” she wrote in the essay submitted
for the All-Mississippi Academic Team.
Thompson and her children - Zachary,
16, and Alexandra, 9 - live in Carriere.
She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John
A. Huye II of Picayune.
Brand, 20, graduated high school in
League City, Texas. She is enrolled at
PRCC’s Forrest County Center, taking
prerequisites for nursing school. She has
a 3.82 GPA.
She is a member of the Beta Tau
Gamma PTK chapter, the Alpha Epsilon
chapter of Sigma Kappa Delta and the
Honor’s Leadership Forum. A Dean’s and
President’s List scholar, she has been
named to Who’s Who Among American
Community Colleges.
■ See PTK honors, page 3
Lifetime
Achievement
inaugural
event set
HEADWAE honors
Charity luncheon to benefit
Sav-A-Life, PRCC foundation
POPLARVILLE - The Little Black Dress charity luncheon will raise funds for the Sav-A-Life Center and the Pearl
River Community College Development Foundation.
The charity luncheon will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Saturday, April 14, at the home of Janet Gale and William
Lewis, PRCC president, on the Poplarville campus.
The event will include a fashion show and silent auction.
Tickets are $50 and must be purchased by April 5. They
can be purchased by Visa, MasterCard or American
Express by calling 601 403-1193 or by mail at PRCC Little
Black Dress, P.O. Box 5389, Poplarville, MS 39470.
Tickets will be mailed on receipt of the donation.
Fine Arts programs face busy
spring schedule in April
Students in the Department of Fine Arts and
Communication are preparing for their spring performances.
RiverRoad showchoir and The Jazz Cats jazz band will
present their spring concert at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 3, at
Olivia Bender Cafeteria.
The Apple Tree musical will be performed at 7 p.m.
Thursday, April 12, and Friday, April 13, in the cafeteria.
Tickets are $5.
The Symphonic Band’s spring concert will be at 7 p.m.
Monday, April 16, in the cafeteria.
The Pearl River Singers and The Voices ensemble will
present their spring concert at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 26,
at Malone Chapel.
■ See more Fine Arts news, page 8.
PRCC hosting several golf
events for scholarships
The Pearl River Community College Development
Foundation invites you to be a participant in one of several
upcoming alumni scholarship golf tournaments.
■ Friday, May 4, 2012: Registration is at 12 noon at the
Bridges Golf Club in Bay St. Louis for the Hancock County
Alumni Association Scholarship Golf Tournament.
Sponsorships include:
$1,000 Gold Package - 4-player team; hole sponsorship;
sponsor recognition for Lunch Buffet & Awards Party.
$700 Maroon Package - 4-player team and sponsorship.
$500 Wildcat Team - 4-player team.
$150 Roll River Roll - Individual player participation.
■ Saturday, June 2, 2012: Registration is at 7 a.m. at the
Pine Creek Golf Club in Purvis for the Forrest/Lamar
County Alumni Association Golf Tournament.
The entry fee is $60 per player - Four-Person Scramble.
Hole sponsorships are $100. Corporate Sponsorships are
$400 (includes hole signage and 4 players)
For more information or registration forms for any of the
above golf tournaments, call Candace Harper at 601-4031193 or charper@prcc.edu.
Congratulations
Dr. Lindsey
Lewis, Workforce
Development
Specialist at
PRCC, and her
husband Richard
welcomed Rylan
Benjamin Lewis
into the family on
Dec. 19, 2011.
Rylan was 8
pounds, 21.5
inches. Rylan is
their first child.
Non-discrimination statement
Pearl River Community College offers equal education and employment opportunities. We do not discriminate on the basis of
race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, or disability. For inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies or
to request accommodations, special assistance, or alternate format
publication, please contact Tonia Moody, ADA/Civil Rights
Coordinator, at P.O. Box 5118, Poplarville, MS 39470 or 601 4031060.
Pearl River Community College student Debra Thompson of Carriere and speech instructor Laura Berry of Petal were honored Feb. 28 during the annual Higher
Education Appreciation Day-Working for Academic Excellence event in Jackson.
Pictured from left: Seated - Berry and Thompson. Back row - Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves
and PRCC President William Lewis. Reeves will also serve as speaker for PRCC’s
graduation exercise on May 15 in Hattiesburg.
PTK chapters earn Five Star status
The two Phi Theta Kappa chapters at Pearl
River Community College have achieved Five
Star Chapter status.
The designation is the organization’s highest and was awarded to the Beta Tau Gamma
chapter at the Forrest County Center and the
Iota Mu chapter on the Poplarville campus.
Representatives of both chapters attended
the PTK Mississippi/Louisiana Regional
Convention March 2 and 3 at Mississippi
Delta Community College in Moorhead.
Will Smith of Hattiesburg was elected regional webmaster, succeeding Kimberly
Williams of Oak Grove in that office.
Hodges
Order of the Golden Key awards went to
Pamela Snyder of the Dixie community, Beta
Tau Gamma chapter; and Jaci Aymond of
Purvis, Iota Mu chapter.
The Beta Tau Gamma chapter won first
place in the Technology category for the
Honors Study Topic Issue Awards.
The Iota Mu chapter was runner-up for the
David Leonard Travel Award.
Advisors for the Beta Tau Gamma chapter
are Doug Donohue, Dr. Ryan Ruckel and Dr.
Terri Ruckel.
Stephanie Lee is advisor for the Iota Mu
chapter.
The inaugural class of Pearl
River Community College’s
Lifetime Achievement Hall of
Fame will be inducted on
Thursday, April 19.
The Lifetime Achievement Hall
of Fame honors the professional
accomplishments of outstanding
PRCC alumni.
The 2012 class includes Sidney
Malone of Hattiesburg, Dr.
Thomas Malone of LaGrange,
Ga.; Jim McQueen of Hattiesburg, the late Henry Thomas of
Hattiesburg and Jean Baughman
Wessel of Huntsville, Ala.
Sidney Malone is involved in
real estate, hunting and timber
management along with wildlife
preservation in Mississippi and
Colorado. He attended Pearl
River in 1962-64.
Tom Malone holds a PhD in
chemical engineering and retired
in 2005 after almost 40 years with
Milliken & Co. He attended Pearl
River in 1957-59.
McQueen’s 40-year career as a
sports illustrator has included 30
years with Golf Digest and illustrations for more than 50 books. He
attended Pearl River in 1950-52.
The late Mr. Thomas was general manager of South Mississippi
Electric Power Association for 19
years and had managed Coast
EPA for 13 years. He attended
Pearl River in 1957-58.
Wessel is chief executive officer
of Wesfam Restaurants Inc., which
operates 27 Burger Kings in north
Alabama. She attended Pearl River
in 1954-55.
They will be honored with a social gathering at 6 p.m. and a dinner at 6:30 p.m. April 19 at
Southern Oaks Home and Garden
in Hattiesburg.
Individual tickets are $100. A
Pearl River Maroon Supporter
can purchase a table for 10 for
$800. A Pearl River Gold
Sponsorship at $2,500 will include the sponsor’s name in all
event promotions along with a
table for 10.
Deadline to purchase tickets
through
the
Development
Foundation office is April 10. For
information, call 601 403-1183 or
email elovell@prcc.edu.
Band with PRCC ties
will appear on BET
XpliZit, a band with strong
ties to Pearl River Community
College, will make an appearance later this year on BET.
The band won a spot on 106
and Park with an audition in
January,
said
vocalist
Chancellor Montgomery of
Columbia, a PRCC student.
“We did good,” he said.
“We’re going to be on BET in
May.”
In addition to Montgomery,
the band is made up of vocalist
Kayla Hatten of Collins, a student at the Forrest County
Center; lead guitarist Anthony
Brown of Hattiesburg, an online student; bassist Jeffrey
Reynolds of Columbia, former
PRCC student James Evans of
Hattiesburg, piano and synthesizer; Alkress Barnes of
Columbia, piano; and drummer Joshua Reynolds of
Columbia, a former PRCC student.
They will perform Mackin’,
a
song
written
by
Montgomery, and viewers will
be asked to vote for their favorite group.
“They told us we’d be used
for more events around the
U.S. if we win,” Montgomery
said.
XpliZit hasn’t been given a
date for the show yet.
Xplizit members are, from left, Chancellor Montgomery of
Columbia, Anthony Brown of Hattiesburg Jeffrey Reynolds
of Columbia (kneeling), Alkress Barnes and Joshua
Reynolds, all of Columbia; Kayla Hatten of Collins and
James Evans of Hattiesburg.
The Drawl
March 2012 • Page 2
N E W S
&
O P I N I O N
Will The Hunger Games Work in progress
outperform Twilight?
By MEGAN SMITH
The Drawl Staff Wtiter
The question at this point is unclear. Some
say The Hunger Games will be more successful, while some Twilight fans feel their saga
will ultimately reign supreme.
With the first Hunger Games movie coming
out this month, it’s a question worth asking. To
best get to the bottom of it though, we should
address the main story lines and female characters.
The story of a war stricken country suffering at the hands of a blood
thirsty President Snow has captivated millions of readers. The Hunger
Games, set in a future that we can
relate to in many ways, is divided
into twelve districts.
Katniss Everdeen lives in District
Twelve, one of the poorest districts,
and in the most grief stricken part
of town. Every year she has to hear
about the Hunger Games, a game Smith
implemented by the Capitol to keep
the districts in line.
Every year, a boy and girl (tributes) are chosen at random from each district to fight to the
death, with the victor being the one that survives. Katniss takes her young sister’s place as
a tribute for the 74th Hunger Games, leaving
behind her best friend and the only person she
could trust, making him promise to keep her
family fed.
On the other hand, the plot of Twilight has
also garnered its fair amount of fans. The
young Bella Swan falls in love with Edward
Cullen, a vampire who is over 100 years old but
will remain in his 17-year-old body.
The main story is about her attempts to keep
him around, falling into a comatose state
whenever he leaves, and attempting to fight
against a family of Italian vampires while she is
a mere mortal. She eventually becomes a vampire after giving birth to a human-vampire hybrid baby. Although the story does revolve
around her relationship with Edward, there are
points of strength and attempts to keep her
new family safe.
Although Twilight has its loyal
following of 14-year-old girls who
shriek when Taylor Lautner takes
his shirt off and faint when Robert
Pattinson appears on screen, these
girls are willing to shell out their
hard earned tooth-fairy money that
they stashed back for years to see
the movie on opening weekend.
The Hunger Games attracts a
wider audience, ranging from Harry
Potter fans that need a new series to
melt into to those who are more interested in how North America could
easily end up.
Overall, I believe The Hunger Games will be
much more successful. One of the main attractions to the film is, as said before, the fact that
this world is a very possible thing.
What with the screams of, “We are the 99
percent,” it doesn’t seem irrational to imagine
a world where the Capitol holds all of the
wealth and only gives help to those who win
the Games.
The reality of the movie will be sure to hit
every one who watches and will bring them
back again and again.
Leaders are people who
inspire others to succeed
By MATT LEE
The Drawl Staff Writer
“Leaders aren’t born, they are made just like
anything else, though hard work, and that’s
the price we’ll have to pay to achieve that goal,
or any goal.” - Vince Lombardi.
Leadership in the world is very important
and it’s an ability that people need in life need.
Leadership is also a tough quality to define
but it is a trait that you have to distinguish
whether a person has it or not.
When NFL scouts look at a prospect they
view leadership as incapable of being realized
or defined. But one thing is for certain, leadership is definitely a quality that has been
around for long time.
This world has been blessed with
great leaders like Billy Graham who
saved people at every revival. Dr.
Graham has preached the Gospel to
more people in live audiences than
anyone else in history - nearly 215
million people in more than 185
countries and territories - through
various meetings, including Mission
World and Global Mission.
Hundreds of millions more have
been reached through television, Lee
video, film, and webcasts.
Evangelist Billy Graham took Christ literally when He said in Mark 16:15, “Go ye into all
the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.” Dr. Graham once said, “My one purpose
in life is to help people find a personal relationship with God, which, I believe, comes
through knowing Christ.”
Leadership development is vital because organizations take on the personality of their
leaders. Leadership training and development
can maximize productivity, shape a positive
culture and promote harmony.
To achieve this, key people must lead individuals and teams using an appropriate leadership style.
By definition, a leader has a group or organization working to meet each challenge and
achieve each goal. The leader’s job is not to
solve every problem alone, but to inspire those
he or she leads to solve the problems. Good
leaders recognize that they do not have all the
answers and are constantly reeducating themselves on their businesses and sharpening
their leadership skills.
There are six qualities to leadership you
need in life: Action which achieves your most
desired goals; relationship which builds personal connections through listening; coaching, understanding, and appreciating others;
vision which sets a clear picture of what your
future should be; character which shows people your true person and possess a collection
of virtues by which to live your life; awareness
to understand your community and
world; and continuous improvement which demonstrates the pursuit of learning and growth.
To be a leader you have to have a
vision. You have to know where
you’re going or else you might get
lost. A person with a clear vision
knows what success looks like with
that firm grasp and that person also
has to know how to achieve success.
It’s like the former CEO Jack
Welch of General Electric once said,
“Good business leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision
and relentlessly drive it to completion.”
A leader must be able to communicate his or
her vision in terms that cause followers to buy
into it. He or she must communicate clearly
and passionately, as passion is contagious.
A good leader must have the discipline to
work toward his or her vision single-mindedly,
as well as to direct his or her actions and those
of the team toward the goal.
Action is the mark of a leader. A leader does
not suffer “analysis paralysis” but is always
doing something in pursuit of the vision, inspiring others to do the same.
■ Matt Lee is a freshman student from
Carnes.
Get involved in election process
By LEIGHTON CHERAMIE
a very important right you have as an
American citizen.
The people that do vote in most cases
It being election time, many people will be haven’t the slightest idea who, what and how’s
getting out and about campaigning for your voting.
hard earned vote and support.
Nor who they’re voting for, what
The problem is most people vote
they believe and-or how that will afwith or for a certain political party
fect them if and when they do get
and their candidates but that’s not
elected. If people would get up and
what voting is about.
get more involved with what’s going
Voting is about putting your trust
on in society today they wouldn’t
and faith in an individual that you
have a chance to complain about
believe will do the best for your
anything bad.
needs and rights as well as defend
It would all be focused on the difand protect the integrity of the
ference they have made in the lives
United States of America.
of the people they get involved with.
A big way people mess up is not
■ Leighton Cheramie is a freshvoting. Not voting is throwing away Cheramie
man student from Carriere.
The Drawl Staff Writer
Despite all the heavy rains this spring, work is progressing on the $10.4 million Ethel
Holden Brownstone Center for the Performing Arts on the Poplarville campus. Here, work
on the foundation for the orchestra pit it is taking shape.
Jazz Fest great experience;
super music, but be prepared
By CAYLI THOMAS
The Drawl Staff Writer
As the days warm up and the trees get a little
greener, music festivals’ busy season begins.
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival,
aka Jazz Fest, is a 10-day cultural feast.
Thousands of musicians, cooks and craftspeople visit the Fair Grounds each year to enjoy
the cultural experience. Jazz Fest takes place
over the course of two weekends. They are
April 27-29 and May 3-6.
This year such artists as Bon Iver, Cee Lo
Green, GIVERS, and Zac Brown Band will be
featured. Many artists that performed at the
Grammys will also be there including Bruce
Springsteen And The E Street Band,
The Beach Boys 50th Anniversary
Reunion, and Foo Fighters.
Over the years, I’ve been to quite a
few music festivals and I’ve definitely picked up on some helpful hints
along the way. Here are my tips on
how to prepare for Jazz Fest:
1. First things first. You must decide what bands you want to go see
and how many days you want to attend. You can go single days, or you
can go the whole weekend. For the Thomas
full line up of Jazz Fest go to
www.NOJazzFest.com
2. Decide what tickets you’d like to purchase.
Single-day tickets and a variety of VIP tickets
are offered. The single-day tickets are $50 online or $65 at the gate. Children ages 2- 10 are
only $5 a day.
VIP tickets, which are more expensive, offer
a variety of perks: Festival admission with reentry privileges; access to special viewing areas
at major Festival stages and in some tents; access to a VIP Hospitality lounge; special access
to restrooms and beverage concessions; parking, if desired; and more. Buy a general admission ticket early, because the longer you wait,
the more expensive the ticket will become.
3. As with every music festival, Jazz Fest has
a few no-no’s. I’ll give you the rundown of a few
major rules and you can check the rest out online at www.NOJazzFest.com
■ Small bags and backpacks only and 12pack soft coolers are permitted. Absolutely no
large or hard coolers, including thermoses, are
allowed.
■ Single, collapsible chairs are permitted.
Large chairs with rockers, foot rests, side tables
etc. are not permitted.
■ Video and audio recording equipment is
strictly prohibited.
■ No outside beverages whether carried or in
vehicles except factory sealed water (up to 1
liter)
■ Re-entry allowed only with WWOZ Brass
Pass, Foundation Gala Pass or BIG CHIEF VIP
Pass.
4. While you are packing up the
night before, getting ready for your
big day, don’t forget these essentials:
■ SUNSCREEN. You’ll be outside
during the hottest part of the day
and you’ll be having so much fun you
won’t even realized that you are turning into a lobster.
■ COMFY SHOES. You’ll be darting and dashing between stages and
vendors! Comfy shoes will save you
some foot ache that’ll last a few days
after.
■ CASH. There will be ATM’s
around the park, but just be prepared to have a
huge service charge. It’s best to bring your own
cash and use the ATM in case of emergency.
■ A BLANKET! Personally, chairs are just
too big and bulky and too difficult to maneuver
a festival with. I prefer a blanket! Light weight,
small, and big enough for a group of friends so
sit on!
■ TOILET TISSUE! You’ll thank me later.
■ BOOKBAG! If you’re going to be bringing
all of this stuff, you are, without a doubt, going
to need a bookbag to hold it all!
The doors open at 11 a.m. every day and
close at 7 p.m. It’s wise to get to the gates about
an hour early so you don’t miss out on any of
the action. Be sure to check out the full line-up
and buy your tickets at www.NOJazzFest.com.
■ Cayli Thomas is a freshman student from
Pearll River Central.
Take a moment to show some
gratitude for our teachers
By WENDY CARPENTER
they are rushing out the door.
A teacher takes a hand, opens a mind, and
touches a heart. ~Author Unknown.
Have you thanked a teacher today for the
A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell
knowledge we obtain from them for a better where his influence stops. ~Henry Adams.
life?
I am indebted to my father for living, but to
We could not be in college today had it not my teacher for living well. ~Alexander the
been for our elementary and high school teach- Great.
ers. Teachers deserve the utmost respect and a
Just a few of the quotes from www.quotegarthank you at times.
den.com
When was the last time you stop ped from
Slow down; take time to show the
rushing to another class just to show
teacher you are there to learn, and
gratitude to your teacher?
appreciate his or her time and effort,
They make time for helping a stuand a simple “thank you” goes a
dent even if a student just needs adlong way. We can gain so much more
vice. Some will even drop everywith politeness and consideration of
thing in order that a student will unour teachers and listening well durderstand or comprehend the subject
ing class.
for the success of the student.
It just might surprise you how
Does it appear that teachers today
much more enjoyable your college
are taken for granted?
experience and learning could be.
We choose to learn yet complain
All my teachers have helped me
when learning requires study skills
learn skills I never thought possible.
Carpenter
and time. A person has to be deterTo accomplish whatever was remined to work for the skills taught by their quired of me to graduate with a degree, my
teacher. There would be less skillful opportuni- teachers gave me encouragement and determination to continue to fulfill my goal.
ties or careers without teachers.
Take the time to show gratitude toward your
So many times students complain of the over
load of homework, or it is too time consuming teachers and remember they are giving you a
for all their classes. Some students sit in class skill for a lifetime.
■ Wendy Carpenter is a sophomore student
and pay more attention to the clock and before
the teacher can finish saying have a nice day from Lumberton.
The Drawl Staff Writer
Mild winter could bring on mosquito problems
By SUSIE HALL
PRCC Nurse
I was listening to the news a few
weeks ago and the reporter was
warning the public that officials
have predicted that mosquitoes
would be out in record numbers this
year.
I can walk out in my yard and find
proof of that.
Not only are mosquitoes irritating, they carry illnesses such as
West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis, and Eastern Equine encephalitis.
West Nile Virus is transmitted primarily through the bite of infected
mosquitoes. Eighty percent of people who contract the virus
do not have any symptoms. Those that do develop symptoms may have
fever, headache, fatigue,
and occasionally skin rash
on the trunk of the body,
swollen lymph glands,
and eye pain.
In severe cases, symptoms may range from
febrile headaches to
meningitis/encephalitis. Hall
The incubation period is believed
to be from two to 14 days. You cannot become infected by ordinary
contact with an infected
bird, horse, or human.
The State Department
of Health in Mississippi
reports 52 cases of West
Nile in 2011; seven in
Pearl River County, seven
in Forrest County and six
in Jones County.
Peak mosquito biting
times are between dusk
and dawn. Some protection measures include:
1. Use mosquito repellent with up
to 30 percent DEET for adults and
10 percent or less on children two to
twelve years. Consult your physician for DEET use on children
under the age of 2.
2. Wear clothes that cover your
skin.
3. Eliminate or drain water-holding containers and discarded tires.
Used tires have become the most
common mosquito breeding sites in
the country.
4. Keep screens on windows and
doors in good repair.
5. Avoid places and times when
mosquitoes bite. Mosquitoes have
resting areas in high grass and
heavy underbrush and breed in
areas of stagnant water such as bird
baths, wading pools, etc.
Enjoy this Spring and stay safe.
Contact the MS State Dept of
Health at msdh.ms.gov for further
information. Mississippi also has a
toll-free West Nile Virus hotline: 1877-WST-NILE or 1-877-978-6453.
■ Health Services is open
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-3
m. during the fall and spring sep.m
mesters. Call 601-403-1303 for assistance or information.
The DRAWL
March 2012 • Page 3
N E W S
PRCC inducts new PTK members in Poplarville
POPLARVILLE - The Iota Mu chapter of Phi Theta Kappa
inducted 39 new members into the honor society for students
at two-year colleges.
They were inducted in a ceremony March 5 at the PRCC
Inductees into the Iota Mu chapter of Phi Theta Kappa at
Pearl River Community College include, seated from left,
Kayla Daley of Hattiesburg, Hannah McCarty of Tupelo,
Audreanna Holder of Lumberton, Diane Bayhi of Poplarville, Darion Matthews of Richton, Chastitie Polk of
Sumrall, Shelby Sattler of Necaise and Sofia Tent of
Carriere; standing, Lauren Carlisle and Tyler Harvison,
Technology Center.
Members must have completed 12 hours of course work with
a 3.5 GPA to be invited to become a member.
Stephanie Lee is advisor for the Iota Mu chapter.
both of Hattiesburg, Jorge Lawes of Picayune, Ashley
King of Kiln, Jerry Mitchell of Picayune, Allison McDaniel
of Columbia, Chelsea Dunhurst of Saucier, Presley
Stiglets of Oak Grove and Chris Koenenn of Kiln. Not pictured are Markieta Christopher of Sumrall, Jacob
Foulon of Carriere and Benjamen Sanford of Columbia.
PRCC Public Relations photo
2-year colleges
rally for funds
About 100 community college students, teachers and administrators gathered at the
state Capitol on March 20 to
ask Mississippi legislators for
more money to meet the needs
of a student population that has
grown as the economy has
struggled.
Wearing green t-shirts that
played off the “Survivor” TV
show logo, students enrolled in
some of the state’s 15 community colleges stood on the steps
of the second floor rotunda as
administrators made the case
for a 39 percent funding increase.
Eric Clark, executive director of the state Board of
Community Colleges, said
community colleges need funding now more than ever.
“After the recession our enrollment skyrocketed and our
budgets were cut,” Clark said.
“We need the Legislature to
make community colleges a priority.”
The lack of funding has led
to bigger classes and more parttime faculty members, plus de-
lays in repairs and renovations
on buildings, Clark said.
Cory Johnson, a student at
Hinds Community College,
studies computer science.
Johnson, 19, said he plans to
transfer after two years to
Mississippi State University,
but is attending Hinds for two
years to help make his undergraduate education affordable.
With tuition on the rise, Rep.
Cecil Brown, D-Jackson, said
“We are pricing people out of
higher education in Mississippi.”
Clark asked the crowd three
questions:
What educational entity is
the best bargain? What is the
primary entity that trains people for 21st century jobs? And
what is the entity that yields
the quickest payback on the
state’s investment?
Community colleges, the
crowd responded each time.
Clark said he knows money
is tight and doesn’t expect to
get the full 39 percent increase,
but hopes to recover to pre-recession budget levels.
PTK HONORS
■ FROM page 1
New members of the Iota Mu chapter of Phi Theta Kappa
at Pearl River Community College include, seated from
left, McKenzie Rigney of Picayune, Whitney Armstrong of
Foxworth, Colbie Marshall of Poplarville, Grisela AmadoSomerville of Picayune, Jorden Sprague of Kiln, Tyler
Graham of Foxworth, Maggie Daniels of Madison,
Deddriona Waller of Tylertown and Hannah Bowman of
Poplarville; standing, Stevany Jackson of Hattiesburg,
Sarah Anthony of Columbia, Jessica Broom of Poplarville,
Amber Mayo of Perkinston, Kat Phillips of Picayune,
Felicia Johnson of Lumberton, Casey Porter of Poplarville,
Alexandra White of Wiggins, Candace Russell of Picayune
and Janea Burton of Columbia.
PRCC Public Relations photo
Brand is the daughter of
Raylyn Brand of Sumrall and
Doug Brand of Maryville,
Tenn.
Garriga, 19, is a graduate of
Hancock High School and
carries a 3.6 GPA. She plans
to attend Mississippi State
University to major in chemical engineering.
She is secretary of the Iota
Mu chapter of PTK on the
Poplarville campus and received the Leaders of Promise
and the Favre Forward
Foundation scholarships.
Garriga is the daughter of
Ernest and Sandra Garriga.
Hodges, 28, is majoring in
electronics technology and
bio-medical technology repair
at the Forrest County Center
and plans to ean a degree in
English with a creative writing emphasis from the
University of Southern
Mississippi. His GPA is 3.9.
He graduated from Purvis
High School and served in the
Army for eight years, which
included two deployments to
Iraq and one to Afghanistan.
While enrolled at PRCC,
Hodges works as bassist for
the Blackheart Poets band
along with working at Forrest
General Hospital as part of an
internship.
Hodges is vice president for
fellowship of the Beta Tau
Gamma PTK chapter, vice
president of Sigma Kappa
Delta, an active participant in
the PRCC Creative Writing
Program and founder of the
campus Vet 2 Vet program.
He is the son of Ann
Hodges of Hattiesburg and
Dell Hodges and the late
James Allen Hodges of
Purvis.
Stephanie Lee is advisor to
the Iota Mu chapter of PTK.
Doug Donohue, Dr. Ryan
Ruckel and Dr. Terri Smith
Ruckel are advisors to the
Beta Tau Gamma chapter.
What’s so great about
CAREY?
Caring, Christian environment
Designated a “College of Distinction”
Transfer friendly with generous
financial aid
Designated “Military Friendly School”
Service and mission
opportunities
Placed on the President’s Higher
Education Community Service Honor
Roll
WILLIAM CAREY UNIVERSITY
55..#-/,!5R5#&)2#5R515,&(-5
www.wmcarey.edu
March 2012 • Page 4
The DRAWL
F O R R E S T
C O U N T Y
C E N T E R
Alpha Epsilon Chapter at PRCC
PRCC speaker
challenges students
to be persistent
HATTIESBURG - Dr. Eddie
Holloway challenged Pearl
River Community College students to build on the legacy of
those who are celebrated during Black History Month.
Holloway, dean of students
at the University of Southern
Mississippi, was the speaker
Tuesday, Feb. 14, for the annual observance at PRCC’s
Forrest County Center in
Hattiesburg.
He paid tribute to notable
African-Americans, including
Dr. Carter G. Woodson,
W.E.B. DuBois and Dr. Martin
Luther King, and urged the
students to follow in their footsteps as leaders.
“We need your talents,” he
said. “Your work is needed. In
this audience sit the cures to
the ills of our society.”
Holloway listed important
events in the history of
African-Americans in the
United States, from the Dred
Scott decision denying slaves
citizenship in 1857 to the election of President Barack
Obama in 2008.
“We have to celebrate those
who blazed the way,” he said.
“We give homage to those
who made sacrifices.”
Holloway’s remarks brought
a fresh understanding, said
student Tiffany Jensen of
Dixie.
“It fills us in and let’s us
know what our country has
gone through and the importance,” she said.
“The speaker was wonderful
and wise in the words he
used.”
The African-American community still faces sorrows,
Holloway said. He cited numerous examples, including
40 percent of black students
become drop-outs, and high
percentages of youth court
and prison populations are
black.
Holloway challenged students of all races to complete
their education and be among
those celebrated by future generations.
“I challenge you to map out
your plans of excellence,” he
said. “I challenge you to step
up to the plate and take a
whack at it. I challenge you to
get rid of your excuses. I challenge you to be persistent,
have tenacity.”
The program marked the
sixth annual Black History
Month Observance at the
Forrest County Center. It is a
joint project of the social sciences department and the
PRCC
History
and
Humanities Club.
■ The program included a
performance by The Voices,
12 PRCC students selected by
audition for the elite ensemble.
Sigma Kappa Delta’s Alpha Epsilon Chapter at Pearl River
Community College held its second annual induction ceremony Feb. 6 at the Forrest County Center in Hattiesburg.
The national English honor society was formed in
February 2011. Dr. Benny Hornsby, PRCC sociology instructor, was the featured speaker. They are from left:
Front row - Chelsee Johnson of Hattiesburg, Kaitlyn
Richards of Hattiesburg, Michaela Donohue of Oak Grove,
Hope Lucas of Hattiesburg, Jonna McGlaughn of
Brookhaven and Mary Jones of Hattiesburg. Second row English faculty advisors Drs. Terri Ruckel and Ryan
Ruckel, Janie Williams of Purvis, Kevin Grzenia of
Hattiesburg, Will Smith of Hattiesburg, Alyssa Brand of
Sumrall, Carolyn Lucas of Hattiesburg, Melissa Stuart of
Hattiesburg and English faculty advisor Mecklin Stevens.
Back row - English faculty advisor Greg Underwood,
Nathan Sutton of Ovett, Karen Wells, Hillaire Long, Sean
Stasny and Corey Waltman, all of Hattiesburg.
Dr. Eddie Holloway makes a point as speaker for the Black
History Month Observance at Pearl River Community
College’s Forrest County Center.
PRCC Public Relations photo
Sigma Kappa Delta’s Alpha Epsilon Chapter at PRCC held
its second annual induction ceremony Feb. 6 at the Forrest
County Center. Officers of the organization include from
left: President Kimberly Williams of Hattiesburg, vice president Eddie Hodges of Purvis and secretary Pamela
Snyder of Hattiesburg.
Include WIN Job Center
in Your Career planning
By REBECCA BROWN
WIN Office Tech Coordinator
Pearl River Community
College and the Mississippi
Department of Employment
Security (MDES) are longtime partners in many state
and local workforce development efforts.
“We welcome Pearl River
students to visit us personally
and find out how we can assist
them in their career journeys,”
said Robin Stewart, MDES
Customer
Operations
Supervisor.
“Our staff is dedicated to
helping students as they transition from full-time learners
to full-time workers.”
The four WIN Job Centers
in PRCC’s district are all a part
of Mississippi’s Workforce
Investment Net-work (WIN)
that is designed to assist increase
employment
in
Mississippi. Both new students and those graduating or
transferring could benefit from
services offered by MDES at
local WIN Job Centers.
WIN
CENTER
RESOURCES
Current students and especially spring graduates are encouraged to take advantage of
WIN Job Center resources including job search assistance,
basic computer skills training
and access to job search tools
including copy and fax machines and computers with
free resume preparation software.
To register as a job applicant, visit your local WIN center or register online at
www.mdes.ms.gov.
WIA FUNDING
Prospective students may
qualify to receive financial assistance for education under
the
federal
Workforce
Investment Act (WIA).
The funding is provided in
Individual Training Accounts
(ITAs) that are set up directly
with PRCC. Students who are
interested in applying for WIA
funding should make sure that
the program of interest is eligible
by
visiting
https://etpl.mdes.ms.gov.
WIN Job Centers will begin
taking applications for WIA
funding for the fall semester
toward late May or early June.
“I have seen students who
have come to me and told me
that without WIA, they could
not have gone to school,” said
Laquita Cohen, ITA specialist
with MDES.
Cohen says that students’
self-esteem levels improve as
she watches them enroll in a
program, work hard to be successful in school and then
graduate and see real income
improvement.
To find out the specific
dates that WIA funding applications will be taken at each
Job Center, call Rebekah
Nelson at 601-554-5663 or
rnelson@prcc.edu or call your
local WIN Job Center:
Hattiesburg 601-584-1202,
Picayune
601-798-3472,
Columbia-601-736-2628 or
Hancock
County-228-4665041.
When applying for funding
at your local WIN Job Center,
bring your PRCC program letter of acceptance, official
photo identification (student
IDs are not accepted) and a
copy of your Social Security
Card.
Christian Women’s group visits PRCC
By TERRI WARD
GED Coordinator
On March 8, individuals
from the Christian Women’s
Job Corps visited Pearl River
Community College’s Forrest
County Center.
We work with Rosemary
Woullard, a volunteer at
CWJC, to organize field trips
to educate participants on the
importance of continuing
their education and what
PRCC has to offer.
Many need to earn their
GED and take this opportunity to enroll in the Adult
Education Program at PRCC.
Others learn information
from admissions, career-technical programs, or academic
courses.
Barbara Gandy, Adult
Student Services, also spoke
on non-traditional students
services offered at PRCC.
Both Ward and Gandy provide individual support to assist these individuals interested in enrolling.
Pine
Belt
Christian
Women’s Job Corps, Inc.
(CWJC) is an ecumenical
ministry that strives to empower
hurting
women
through education, mentoring and goal setting and to
Administrators, faculty and students from Pearl River Community College pose for a picture in front of the state Capitol in Jackson during the recent Phi Theta Kappa Honor
Society’s recognition event in Jackson on March 7. Pictured from left are Dr. Adam
Breerwood, vice president for the Poplarville Campus and Hancock Center; Dr. Cecil
Burt, vice president for Forrest County Operations; Dr. Ryan Ruckel and Dr. Terri Ruckel,
move them toward self-sufficiency.
The program is more than
just offering classes; it is
about relationships and support systems.
What hurting people need
is opportunity, not pity, and at
CWJC we seek to provide opportunity in a Christian context.
The goal is to break the
cycle of poverty, be it financial, emotional or spiritual. It
is a program about empowering women to help themselves; it is a HAND UP not a
HAND OUT.
Women who choose to participate in the program attend
10 weeks of intensive life and
career skills classes that include Bible study, computer
classes, money management,
conflict resolution, communications, parenting, career
skills and responsibility and
decision-making.
In addition to the classes,
they have an opportunity to
participate in community
based field trips to learn more
on resources within the Pine
Belt area.
Such trips include an educational stop at PRCC, as well
as, WIN Job Center and the
chambers of Judge Deborah
Gambrell.
If interested in volunteering
with CWJC, contact: Pine
Belt CWJC, 117 Evans Street,
Hattiesburg, MS 39402 or call
Linda Donnell, Executive
Director at 601-545-4855.
■ Individuals 17 years of
age or older who are officially
withdrawn from school may
enroll at one of our seven locations.
For information on enrollment opportunities, call the
Office of Adult Education at
(601) 554-5551.
The Christian Women’s Job Corps volunteer staff and participants along with Terri Ward,
GED Coordinator.
advisors for the Beta Tau Gamma chapter at the Forrest County Center; student honorees Eddie Hodges of Purvis, Debra Thompson of Carriere, Gineca Garriga of
Columbia, and Sarah Brand of Sumrall; Stephanie Lee, advisor for the Iota Mu chapter in
Poplarville; Doug Donohue, advisor for the Beta Tau Gammas chapter; and PRCC
President William Lewis.
The DRAWL
March 2012 • Page 5
F O R R E S T
C O U N T Y
C E N T E R
Phi Theta Kappa induction ceremony
HATTIESBURG - New members of the Beta Tau Gamma chapter of Phi Theta Kappa
international honor society were inducted Monday, Feb. 27, at the Forrest County Center
of Pearl River Community College. They include from left: Seated - Ellia Peak of Sumrall,
Hillaire Long of Natchez, Kaitlyn Richards of Petal, Jeanne` Saavedra of Petal,
MacKenzie Henderson of Greene County, Willetta Clinton of Petal, Melissa Fahrenbruch
of Hattiesburg, Joshua Broome of Prentiss, Arielle Bastine of Petal and Jackie Baker of
Petal. Second row - Dr. Terri Ruckel, Beta Tau Gamma advisor; PTK officer Chelsee
Johnson of Hattiesburg, Donna Perry of Runnelstown, Carolyn Lucas of Petal, Melissa
Stuart of Picayune, Brandy Overstreet of Hattiesburg, Kristine Montgomery of Petal,
Jonna McGlaughn of Brookhaven, Hope Lucus of Sumrall, Alyssa Brand of Sumrall,
Lauren Gaudet of Jackson, Kevin Grzenia of Chicago, Doug Donohue, Beta Tau Gamma
advisor; and PTK officer Kimberly Williams of Hattiesburg. Back row - Dr. Ryan Ruckel,
Beta Tau Gamma advisor; PTK officer Eddie Hodges of Purvis, PTK officer Will Smith of
Hattiesburg, Sean Stasny of Poplarville, Kyrstan Walter of Purvis, Toy Zarrage of Petal,
Janie Williams of Purvis, Courtney Singley of Columbia, Andy Sims of Petal, Eric Still of
Purvis, Rhonda Seals of Collins and Justin Tuck of Oak Grove. Guest speaker for the
event was Dr. Cyndi H. Gaude, professor and director of Human Capital Development
Program at USM, Gulf Coast. Not pictured were: Tia Beach of Hattiesburg, Amanda
Blount of Hattiesburg, Alton Curtis of Purvis, Anna Delancey of Purvis, Danyell Detillier of
Picayune, Carolyn Dillon of Hattiesburg, Brad Farlow of Petal, Corinne Gentry of
Senatobia, Kyle Hartfield of Purvis, Bailey Hoda of Pass Christian, Arolyn Joiner of
Hattiesburg, Antonio King of Purvis, Joel Lee of Perkinston, Rachel Palmer of Sumrall,
Miranda Parker of Hattiesburg, Ashten Pounds of Foxworth, Katrina Reed of Tunica,
Matthieu Rivera of Petal, LeeAnn Rogers of Hattiesburg, David Stepko of Hattiesburg,
Sarah Wages of Hattiesburg, Herman Wheeless of Hattiesburg, Shane Williamson of
Hattiesburg, and Anson Wright of Hattiesburg. PRCC Public Relations photo
Everyone deals with their
own motivation differently
By Dr. BENNY HORNSBY
There was no easy way for me. I wasn’t bionic; there was no miracle; and being a Navy
chaplain, the Army instructors sure didn’t cut
How’s your motivation these days? How do me any slack.
you personally deal with obstacles in your path
In fact, they singled me out as a good candiand with depressing situations in which you date for “special” attention. I’m sure I ranmore
find yourself?
extra miles, did more extra pushups, and drank
My own experience has shown me that I less water than anyone else.
should not try to solve all of my problems at
But I made it. How did I do it? I did it by
once. Rather, I depend on God, and I am able concentrating on my immediate problem. Each
to maintain a pretty good mental equilibrium morning, I would say to myself: “Lord, just let
by focusing on the immediate problem which me last here until lunch, and then I’m going to
confronts me instead of trying to solve all of drop myself from the course and go home.”
my problems at once.
When lunch came, I would say,
I’ll give you an example.
“Just help make it until the end of
Many years ago, I attended the
the day and I’m going to quit.” That
Army Airborne Parachute School at
night, however, looking back over
Fort Benning, Ga.
the events of the past day, I would
The training format there was
say to myself, “Well, I’ve made one
simple: three weeks of rigorous
more day, I might as well stick
physical conditioning and parachute
around until lunch tomorrow, but
instruction followed by a week of
then I’m gone.”
jumping out of both propeller and jet
That process went on for one
aircraft.
month. I won’t lie and tell you that I
Needless to say, there are more
grew extra strong or that I stopped
pleasant places to spend a month in Dr. Hornsby
vomiting every morning on the five
Georgia, especially when it’s July and
mile run, or that I even got to like it.
the temperature hovers around 100 degrees in
But when my class loaded up for the first
the shade each afternoon.
jump and that C-141 Starlifter jet transport
I was in trouble from the first. Just coming rumbled down the runway to drop us out over
out of Vietnam and not in the best of health, I rocky Alabama, I was onboard and I sure didn’t
found myself in the company of Army Special ride the plane back to Fort Benning.
Forces personnel, SEALS, and Marine Corps
I didn’t win any awards; nobody took my picReconnaissance people, not to mention the ture; but I got my jumps and I got my wings.
hundreds of regular Army paratrooper volunBy the time my career was over, I had over
teers who made up the bulk of my class.
fifty jumps under my belt; but I always had in
Many were on the way to Ranger School and the back of my mind that I was leaving at
were ready to run all day and all night.
lunchtime.
PRCC Instructor
Pearl River Community College humanities-social sciences instructor Dr. Benny Hornsby
(right) spoke to students March 2 when William Carey University’s School of Education
hosted the seventh annual Young Authors Celebration (YAC). More than 600 students from
eight schools participated in YAC. Participants included Lillie Burney Elementary and
Rowan Elementary, both of Hattiesburg, New Hope Christian Academy of Jackson, West
Marion Elementary, Runnelstown Elementary, Purvis Elementary, Tylertown Elementary,
and Prentiss Elementary. Educators who sign up to be a YAC teacher hold a writer’s workshop in their classrooms, where their students learn about the drafting, editing, and publishing stages of writing and illustrating through hands-on experience.The students then bring
their books to the YAC event at WCU and share their work during breakout sessions.
Induction ceremonies Feb. 27 for new members of the Beta Tau Gamma chapter of Phi
Theta Kappa International honor society at the Forrest County Center were a special occasion for three generations of one family. Pictured from left: Dr. Ryan Ruckel, Beta Tau
Gamma advisor; Dr. Cecil Burt, PRCC vice president for Forrest County Operations;
Kyrstan Walker of Purvis, her mom, Stephanie Wheatcroft of Purvis, Wheatcroft’s mom,
Iva Rigby of Wiggins, and PRCC President William Lewis.
Local family cherishes
PTK induction at PRCC
Induction ceremonies Feb. 27 for new members of the Beta Tau Gamma chapter of Phi
Theta Kappa International honor society at
Pearl River Community College’s Forrest
County Center in Hattiesburg were a special occasion for three generations of one family.
On this night, sophomore Kyrstan Walker of
Purvis was inducted, joining her mom,
Stephanie Wheatcroft of Purvis, and her grandmother, Iva Rigby of Wiggins.
Rigby was inducted into Phi Theta Kappa
while she was a student at Hinds Community
College, where she and Wheatcroft graduated
together in 1996.
“At the time of graduation, she was 56 years
olds and I was 26,” said Wheatcroft. “She continued her education at Mississippi College and
then graduated from Jackson State in the school
of social work with honors at the age of 60.”
Wheatcroft returned to William Carey
University after 13 years and five children and
graduated in 2010 at the age of 40 with a B.S.
in psychology and a double minor in biological
science and gerontology.
She had a 4.0 grade-point average her last
three trimesters even though her husband suffered a heart attack five weeks prior to graduation. He recently completed the welding program at PRCC.
“I had applied for the OTA (Occupational
Therapy Assistant) program at Pearl River, but
was doubtful of being selected for many reasons
including my age,” she said. “I was thrilled
when I was selected for an interview. I received
my acceptance letter the Friday before my graduation ceremony at Carey. I began the OTA
program in fall 2010.”
She was inducted to Phi Theta Kappa last
spring.
“At that time my oldest daughter Kaylan was
attending PRCC,” said Wheatcroft. “She
worked in the book store on the Hattiesburg
campus.”
In the spring of 2009, Kyrstan began classes
at PRCC at the age of 16. In May of 2011,
Kaylan and Kyrstan graduated from PRCC together. Kaylan attends Mississippi State
University on the pre-engineering track.
Kyrstan was accepted to the OTA program
last fall.
“In January, my daughter Kourtney began
classes at PRCC as well,” said Wheatcroft. My
fourth daughter Kristian will be joining her sisters this fall.”
She expects her five-year old son, Kiahl, who
was recently recognized as student of the week
at Purvis Elementary, to be a Wildcat one day
as well.
As for their Phi Theta Kappa pins,
Wheatcroft said, “My mother decided she
would pass her pin to me this past Christmas
when she turned 70. We all agreed that on the
year that we turn 70 our pin would be passed to
the next family member that was involved with
Phi Theta Kappa. Turns out last week I had to
return my Christmas gift.”
Legislators and biscuits
This Hubfest will have a PRCC connection
Hattiesburg’s annual Hubfest will be held in
downtown Hattiesburg on Saturday, March 31,
and PRCC’s Dr. Benny Hornsby is helping to coordinate the Car and Motorcylce show that will
be held in conjunction with the event from 9
a.m. until 2 p.m.
Do you have a classic car or motorcycle that
you would like to show off? Rat rods are welcome.
Sponsored by USM’s Wesley (Methodist)
campus ministry with the proceeds designated
to fund a student mission trip to Africa this summer, the show has been given a prime location in
the Regions Bank parking lot. There will be
seven classes of entries, covering most categories of automobiles, and over 30 trophies will
be awarded. Door prizes will be awarded to reg-
istered participants every hour.
Dr. Hornsby will be bringing his collection of
micro-cars as well as his collection of old British
motorcycles (Triumph Bonneville, Norton 850
Commando, BSA Shooting Star, etc.)
Pre-registration is $20 and $25 on the day of
the event. The awards ceremony will be held at 2
p.m. Register online at www.usmwesley.org, call
601-268-6889, or call Hornsby at 601-408-4608.
Dr. Hornsby will also be in charge of automobile/motorcycle registration and placement at
the event as well as the awards ceremony, and
could use the assistance of any Hattiesburg area
student who might be interested in spending an
interesting day in the middle of shiny chrome,
loud noises, and carbon monoxide.
State Sen. John Polk (center) of Hattiesburg chats with nursing students last month during
the second annual “Legislators and Biscuits” event at the Forrest County Center. Sen. Polk,
with state representatives Toby Barker, Larry Byrd and Hank Lott, and Transportation Commissioner Tom King, answered questions from PRCC students. King also announced that
plans are full steam ahead for a traffic signal for the entrance to the Forrest County Center.
March 2012 • Page 6
The DRAWL
N E W S
Brooms have found happiness in ministry work
By SHIRLEY BURNHAM
Prentiss Headlight Correspondent
Tommy and Lynn Broom have
been sweethearts and partners in
ministry for almost 25 years.
Lynn Broom laughingly states,
“We’re like Moses and Aaron. I do
most of the talking for us.” More seriously, she said, “Our relationship is
proof that when you love someone
and share life’s most precious moments together it doesn’t matter
how much money you have or what
problems come your way, you can
still live happily ever after.”
“I couldn’t have picked a better
pastor’s wife,” Tommy Broom said.
“God knew what He was doing
when he put us together.”
The two met in the summer of
1984. Lynn (Haddox) lived at
Bunker Hill and was a bubbly outgoing junior high student at Columbia
Academy. She was a member of
Hathorn Baptist Church and played
on the softball team.
“When we were playing ball at
Price field my friends and I were
fighting over a Coke and I ended up
accidentally dousing Tommy with
it,” Lynn said. “Tommy was a few
years older than me. He was dating
a girl who came to Hathorn and he
came there with her. They sat close
to the front and my girlfriends and I,
on the back row, would make fun of
him, but,” she said, “he did have a
really cool car, a red Mustang with
black stripes.”
Lynn relates that she really did not
see Broom again until the next year
when he called her a few times and
then asked her for a date, and it was
not until after their marriage she
found out he had kept an eye on her
during the time she had not heard
from him.
“I didn’t know he had been ‘stalking’ me for a while,” she said with
amusement in her eyes.
“On our first date we went to the
Whynot Race Track with an older
couple. We didn’t even hold hands.
He was so quiet I was lucky to get a
headshake out of him.”
However, it seemed the dye was
set for the flame-haired fun-loving social butterfly and the quiet deep
thinker.
The two soon became a couple and
Broom proposed giving her a ring
when she was a high school junior.
Shortly after she finished high
school, in June of 1987 Lynn Haddox
and Tommy Broom exchanged vows
at Goss Baptist Church.
After a honeymoon that included a
trip to the Talladega 500, Opryland
and Six Flags over Texas, they
moved into a tiny Jim Walter house
in Bunker Hill.
Lynn went to college and Tommy
went to work at a hardware store and
used his air conditioning and refrigeration training he had received for
side jobs.
Lynn worked while attending college and stated the two were on a
very tight budget. After a couple of
years their son Jody was born and
then Evan came along.
Broom was asked to teach at the
Marion County Vo-Tech and, after receiving his degree from the
University of Southern Mississippi
and Mississippi State, he began
teaching the program at Pearl River
Community College.
Broom had felt the call into the
ministry before he and Lynn met but
because of his lack of academic proficiency, his family discouraged him
from following through with his commitment.
Lynn, however, believed with
God’s help you could do anything
you wanted and with her encouragement he began to fulfill his calling.
Said Lynn, “God put Tommy in
Tommy and Lynn Broome have been partners in ministry for nearly 25
years. Tommy is the instructor of Heating, A/C, Ventilation, and
Refrigeration Maintenance program at the Forrest County Center.
teaching to give him knowledge and
confidence and we worked together
with youth groups before he became
pastor of Society Hill Baptist Church
and then Bethany in Prentiss where
we now serve.”
In 2005 Lynn Broom began teaching at Prentiss Christian, and now is
at Prentiss High School this year.
PRCC hosts Skills USA competition
High school students from throughout
South Mississippi converged on Pearl
River Community College Feb. 13 for
District V Skills USA competition.
First place winners in each of the 19
competition categories advanced to the
state Skills USA competition on March
22-23 at Hinds Community College.
Students competing
came from
schools in Forrest, George, Greene,
Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson
Davis, Lamar, Marion, Pearl River, Perry
and Stone counties. District winners are:
Automotive service technology - Andrew
Bounds, Greene County Vo-Tech, first;
Anthony Sprouse, Jackson County Tech
Center, second; and Tommy Eubanks, Lamar
County Center for Tech Education, third.
Carpentry - Zakary Ferand, Hancock County
Vo-Tech, first; Conner Bond, Harrison County
Vo-Tech, second; and Christain Slusser,
Gulfport High Career and Technical Center,
third.
Architectural Drafting - Ryan Broth,
Harrison County Vo-Tech, first; and Andy
Thatcher, FCAHS, second.
Cabinet making - Aaron Slaughter, Gulfport
High Career and Technical Center, first; Dalton
Barber, Harrison County Vo-Tech, second; and
Peter Nguyen, Jackson Co. Tech Center, third.
us speaking - Andrew Rider,
Extemporaneou
Biloxi High, first; and Robert Bawcurm,
Jackson County Tech Center, second.
Job Demo A - Josh Hamilton, Petal High
School, first; Chelsey Bond, Pascagoula High
School Vo-Tech, second; and Johnny Le,
Jackson County Tech Center, third.
Job Demo Open - Glenn Anglada, Gulfport
High School Career and Technical Center, first;
Michael Cardenas, Gulfport High School
Career and Technical Center, second; and Matt
Elliot, Petal High School, third.
Job Interview - Renny Deakle, Jackson
County Tech Center, first; Linton Koch, Forrest
County AHS second; and Asean Davis,
Harrison County Vo-Tech, third.
Masonry - Derrek Jackson and helper
Deanna Hunt, Harrison County Vo-Tech, first;
Tavius Martin and helper Charles Braziel,
Gulfport Career and Technical Center, second;
and Damonh Jones and helper Larry Garry, Jeff
Davis County Vo-Tech, third.
Precision machining - James Hill, Hancock
County Vo-Tech, first; Ethan Breland, Harrison
Co. Vo-Tech, second; and Anthony Trevino,
Pascagoula High Vo-Tech, third.
Prepared speech - Bradi Boleware, Jefferson
Davis County Vo-Tech, first; Daniel Pratt,
Biloxi High Career Tech, second; and Adelia
Casanova, Greene County Vo-Tech, third.
Quiz Bowl - Ashley Broussard, Jacob Mazur,
Destiny Reynolds, Mason Landry and Cory
Aatkins, Biloxi Career Tech Center, first;
Samantha Goff, Joshua Martins, Vinson
Murray, Dustin Phillips and Chais Tapper,
Jackson County Tech Center, second; and
Matthew Dominick, Joseph Mantooth, Keith
Stanley, Ricky Smith and Jacob Chambliss,
Forrest County AHS, third.
Related technical math - Thomas White,
Harrison County Vo-Tech, first; Josh Spears,
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
George County Center, second; and Javier
Lopez, Hattiesburg High School, third.
Residential wiring - Mitch Strider, Lamar
County Center for Technical Education, first;
Jason Meidl, Carl Loftin Career Center
(Marion County), second; and J.P. Simpson,
Gulfport Tech Center, third.
Sheet metal - Justin Ainsworth, Hancock VoTech, first; and Drake Broome, Lamar County
Center for Technical Education, second.
Technical drafting - Bryce Sheasby, Forrest
County AHS, first; and Taylor Valdez, Harrison
County Vo-Tech, second.
Welding - Justin Schwarts, Hancock VoTech; Aaron Bouler, Gulf Coast Community
College George County Center, second; and
Matthew Smith, Greene Co. Vo-Tech, third.
“We’re not perfect or role models
but we’ve never broken up or separated,” she said.
“We just love each other. We’ve
just done the best we could to serve
the Lord wherever we are at the moment and to do it together.”
■ Reprinted with permission
from the Prentiss Headlight..
Below, Zakary Ferand of
Hancock County Vo-Tech
fits a cross piece Monday,
Feb. 13, while competing in
Skills USA carpentry competition at Pearl River
Community College. Ferand
took first place and advanced to state competition.
Left, Mitch Strider of Lamar
County Center for Technical
Education wires a switch
during Skills USA competition. He won first place and
advanced to state competition. PRCC Public Relations
photos
The DRAWL
March 2012 • Page 7
N E W S
get Nice donation
High school students
preview of PRCC programs
POPLARVILLE - Approximately 350 high
school juniors came to Pearl River Community
College Tuesday, March 6, to get close looks at
career and technical programs offered by the
college.
The students, who are enrolled in career and
technical programs in their home school districts, each visited three of PRCC’s 22 programs during the first Student CareerTechnical Conference.
“I learned a lot today,” said Brandon Swilley,
a student at Forrest County Agricultural High
School. “I’m actually hoping to come here.”
Swilley wants to play football and concentrate on a business career.
Wade Nelson of Purvis got his hands a little
dirty laying brick in the PRCC brick, block and
stonemasonry shop.
“I’ve done a little bit in my first year at votech,” he said. Nelson attends the Lamar
County Center for Technical Education.
Brittany Hall of Bassfield also laid a couple
bricks and pulled electrical wire through a conduit in the PRCC electrical technology shop.
“I want to be an architect because I like
drawing,” she said. Hall is a building trades
student at Jefferson Davis Vocational Center.
The event allowed students to see what they
would learn if they enrolled in one of PRCC’s
programs after graduation and gave them a
chance to familiarize themselves with the campus, said Casey Rawls, PRCC director of recruitment and orientation.
Students interested in instrumentation got
to see how computers control traffic lights,
water pressure monitors and even a blow-out
preventer like that blamed for the BP oil spill.
PRCC students Derek Gill of Picayune and
Chris Wells of Poplarville built a blow-out preventer control panel in a fluid power class.
They demonstrated how an operator would
push a button to activate the preventer.
“The button sends a signal that initiates a series of events to close down the well,” Wells
said.
Instrumentation and several other programs
operate on block schedules - a single course all
day for two weeks followed by a break, then another course for two weeks.
‘They came in here not knowing anything
about it, but at the end of two weeks, they were
able to build this very complex circuit,” instructor Ellie Ratliff said about the students
who built the control panel.
PRCC’s career-technical programs include
business office systems, computer network
support, drafting and design, electronics,
health care data, instrumentation, marketing
and management, web development, practical
nursing, barbering, cosmetology, early childhood education, automotive mechanics, brick,
block and stonemasonry; construction management, electrical, heating, air conditioning
and refrigeration; precision machining, welding and cutting, commercial truck driving, construction equipment operation and utility lineman.
Schools that brought students to the conference were Forrest County Agricultural High
School, Hancock County Career Technical
Center, Hattiesburg High School, Jefferson
Davis Vocational Center, Lamar County
Center for Technical Education, Carl Loftin
Career and Technical Center (Marion County)
and Poplarville High School Career
Development Center.
Pearl River Community College utility lineman student Marques Garner of Columbia,
right, guides a transformer to the ground Tuesday, Feb. 28, as he and others unload
them. Coast Electric Power Association donated 11 used transformers to the PRCC program for training. PRCC Public Relations photo
PRCC lineman program gets
gift from Coast Electric
POPLARVILLE - Coast Electric Power
Association has donated 11 transformers to
the utility lineman technology program at
Pearl River Community College.
“They’re all used transformers that we were
going to be disposing of,” said Rodney Beech,
CEPA training coordinator. “They’re in good
enough shape the college can use them for
training. For training purposes, they’re marvelous.”
New transformers cost $600 to $1,000 each,
depending on size, said PRCC instructor
Randy Henry. He estimates the donation from
CEPA is worth $8,000.
“We’re going to build an outdoor transformer banking lab,” he said.
Transformers are used to increase or decrease the voltage transmitted on a power line.
The lab will give students hands-on experience
in installing and wiring transformers, he said.
Three students in PRCC’s commercial truck
driving program, accompanied by instructor
David Clark, transported the transformers to
the Poplarville campus.
PRCC started the utility lineman technology
program in 2008 with the help of CEPA, Chain
Electric Co., South Mississippi and Pearl River
electric power associations, Mississippi Power
Co., Entergy and the Mississippi Community
College Board. Representatives of each entity
continue to serve on the program’s advisory
board.
“All of our partners have really stepped forward and donated stuff,” Henry said.
Fifteen students are currently enrolled in the
program which can be tailored to lead to a twoyear associate in applied science degree or a
one-year certificate of proficiency.
“We’re very happy to be a partner with Pearl
River Community College,” Beech said. “We’ve
hired several students who are now linemen
with us.”
DECA students score in state
By DELANA HARRIS
Right photo, Colton
Holder, a junior at Forrest
County Agricultural High
School, closes a switch at
the Pearl
River Community College
utility lineman technology
lab in Poplarville while instructor Randy Henry
watches. Holder and
about 350 high school
juniors attended the
Student Career-Technical
Conference on Tuesday,
March 6, at PRCC.
Above, Brittany Hall of
Bassfield and Wade
Nelson of Purvis try laying
bricks , when they toured
the brick, block and
stonemasonry program.
PRCC Public Relations
photos
Staff profile
Business Marketing Instructor
Collegiate DECA is a national student organization dedicated to enhancing the skills of
emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers
in marketing, finance, and management.
The organization has been providing valuable
knowledge and student connections to the business world for more than 50 years. This year,
Collegiate DECA’s annual International Career
Development Conference (ICDC) is in Salt
Lake City, Utah on April 20-25.
Collegiate DECA members from Pearl River
Community College traveled to the State Career
Development Conference on Feb. 29- March 1
in Jackson.
The PRCC members traveled to the conference in hopes of qualifying for ICDC in April.
Qualifying for the international conference
means that students must place in the top three
for their competitive event.
Pearl River has a long history of successfully
receiving high marks in their competitive
events. All of the competitors from PRCC received medals for their events and two of the
students qualified for the international conference in Salt Lake City.
As April quickly approaches, the two qualifying students from Pearl River will be making
Light pole setting
Pictured are the PRCC students who competed at the State Career Development
Conference in Jackson: From left: Cole
Coe of Waveland, fourth place in Marketing
Management; Raqi Beech of Carriere, third
place in Business Ethics Team Event; and
Heather Ducket of Picayune, third place in
Business Ethics Team Event.
Staff profile
NAME: Sonya Jordan-Tapper
NAME: Gwen Smith
FAMILY: Married to Clint;
daughter Claire, 19; son JohnTaylor, 17.
FAMILY: Married to David Smith
(7 years), one son, Rance, 25; two
daughters, Skye Necaise, 21; and
Emily Necaise, 17.
RESIDENCE: Poplarville
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND:
Hancock North Central, 1984; Pearl
River Community College, 1986,
AA degree; Mississippi State, 1990,
BS Degree; University of Southern
Mississippi, (Current)
RESIDENCE: Poplarville
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND:
Greenwood High School, graduated
1981; Mississippi State, B.S. 1984;
M.S. Agriculture and Life Sciences, Smith
2007.
Sonya Tapper
POSITION AT PRCC: Early
Childhood Education Department
POSITION AT PRCC: Director, Career and Technical
Education
TEACHING EXPERIENCE: 18 years
TEACHING EXPERIENCE: 16 years in classroom and/or
adult education; 5 years administration.
FAVORITE BOOK: A Child’s Garden of Versus, Robert Louis
Stevenson; Beyond Good and Evil, Friedrich Nietzsche; The
Old Man and the Sea, Earnest Hemmingway; To Kill a
Mockingbird, Harper Lee; The Secret Garden, Francis Hodgson
Burnett; The House with Seven Gables, Nathaniel Hawthorne.
FAVORITE BOO
OK: Pilgrim’s Progress
FAVORITE FOOD: Seafood
FAVORITE FOOD: Momma’s biscuits with Cane syrup.
FAVORITE MOVIE: Keys of the Kingdom, Gregory Peck;
Men of Boys Town, Spencer Tracy; It’s A Wonderful Life,
James Stewart; To Catch a Thief, Cary Grant/Grace Kelly.
FAVORITE MOVIE: Fried Green Tomatoes
FAVORITE MUSIC: All kinds
FAVORITE VACATION TRIP: Jacksonhole, Wyoming
FAVORITE MUSIC: Pop
POSITIVE ASPECTS OF WORKIN
NG AT PRCC: It is a
pleasure to work at PRCC. It is always people that make the difference. I enjoy working with Career Tech Instructors, Faculty
and Staff. I enjoy working with Administrators and other departmental personnel to help find solutions that improve our
work environment and the quality of life for our students.
YOUR ADVICE FOR STUDENTS: One of the most significant things you can do to be successful in school, work, and
life is to help others be successful. This will always separate
you from the crowd. Helping others will always come back to
you in ways that are far reaching and unexpected.
plans to travel to the international conference.
These students are busy analyzing case study
problems and look forward to competing
against other members from colleges and universities across the globe.
If any student is interested in joining
Collegiate DECA, please email or call Delana
Harris at 601-403-1118 or dharris@prcc.edu.
FAVORITE VACATION TRIP: San Francisco; Alcatraz;
Yokosuka, Japan
Instructor Randy Henry steadies a decorative light pole
while students in his utility lineman program set it on the
base. The students ran the wiring for the new poles along
College Drive.
POSITIVE ASPECTS OF WORKIING AT PRCC: Teaching
Early Childhood Education courses at Pearl River has enriched not only my life but that of my children. The sense of
belonging to an ever changing, ever endearing community is
prevalent in all that is Pearl River.
YOUR ADVICE FOR STUDENTS:
1) Treat everyone as you want to be treated; 2)
Compliment three people every day; 3) Pray not for things,
but for wisdom and courage.
March 2012 • Page 8
The DRAWL
PRCC presents
The Apple Tree
April 12-13
POPLARVILLE - The Pearl
River Community College
Department of Fine Arts and
Communication will present
The Apple Tree at 7 p.m.
Thursday, April 12, and
Friday, April 13.
The musical will be performed at Olivia Bender
Cafeteria.
The Apple Tree is a series of
three musical playlets with
music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by
Sheldon Harnick and a book
by Bock and Harnick with
contributions from Jerome
Coopersmith.
Each act has its own storyline tied together by common
themes.
The first act is based on
Mark Twain’s The Diary of
Adam and Eve; the second act
is based on Frank R.
Stockton’s The Lady or the
Tiger?; the third act is based
on Jules Feiffer’s Passionella.
Cast members are Stephen
Berry, Hannah Pierce and Ryan
Morris, all of Columbia;
N E W S
Jazz Cats perform
Creighton Holder and Allen
Grace, both of Hattiesburg;
Jacob Cochran and Zorana
Burger, both of Poplarville;
Danielle Rogers and Taylor
Trigg, both of Petal; Claire
Loper and Jonathan Morris,
both of Lumberton; Michael
Boyte of Sumrall, Mariah
Leblanc of Purvis, Skyler
Delcuse of Foxworth, Emily
Murray of Bogalusa, La.; and
Kimberly
Packwood
of
Picayune.
Working on the crew are
Amber Scott, Justin Keys,
Darious Lang and Kendall
Laster, all of Hattiesburg;
Zaccheus Husband of Purvis
and Larrika Lodge of Folsom,
La.
The PRCC Jazz Cats perform Saturday, Feb. 18, for junior and senior high school students who attended the PRCC
Director is Christopher Band Clinic. PRCC Public Relations photos
Flynn, PRCC instructor of
speech and theater, with musical direction by LaDona
Tyson, PRCC director of
choral groups.
Tickets are $5 at the door or
can be reserved by calling 601
403-1180 beginning March 26.
John Eation of Columbia plays a tenor sax solo with the
Jazz Cats.
Lead trumpet player Kristy Nobles of Gulfport plays with
the Jazz Cats.
PRCC Symphonic Band
Mariah LeBlanc of Purvis is Eve and Michael Boyte of
Sumrall is Adam in the first act of The Apple Tree.
Dr. Kyle Hill directs the PRCC Symphonic Band Friday, Feb. 17, during the PRCC Band Clinic in Poplarville.
PRCC Public Relations photos
Danielle Rogers of Petal is Passionella and Jacob
Cochran of Poplarville is Flip in The Apple Tree’s third act.
The cast for Act 2 of The Apple Tree include, from left,
Creighton Holder of Hattiesburg, Ryan Morris of Columbia,
Allen Grace of Hattiesburg, Taylor Trigg of Petal and Emily
Murray of Bogalusa, La. PRCC Public Relations photos
Left photo, Jacob Cochran of Poplarville plays during the Symphonic
Band’s performance at the PRCC Band Clinic. Above, Samantha
Dixon of Columbia, from left, Cody Stroupe of Carriere and Nicholas
Aube`of Poplarville play Friday, Feb. 17, during the Symphonic
Band’s performance.
Jackon Prep grand champs
Reveillon from Jackson Prep
took home Grand Champion
honors Feb. 4, at the Mississippi
Showchoir Con-test.
Thirty-three
showchoirs
from middle, junior and senior
high schools competed in the
annual event hosted by Pearl
River Community College at
William Carey University.
First
runnner-up
was
Company from South Jones
High School. Petal High’s
Soundsations was second run-
ner-up followed by Centerstage!
from Oak Grove High School,
third runner-up, and South
Jones High School’s New
Edition women’s showchoir,
fourth runner-up.
Jackson Prep and South
Jones tied for the best vocals
award while Jackson Prep took
honors for best visuals and best
show design.
The Grand Champion solo Cammie Moree sings “I’ve Got the World on a String” as
award went to Kayla Patterson the Sumrall High School showchoir, Legacy, competes
of South Jones.
Saturday, Feb. 4, in the Mississippi Showchoir Contest.
Legacy, Sumrall High School’s showchoir, competes in the
Mississippi Showchoir Contest hosted by PRCC at William
Carey University in Hattiesburg.
The DRAWL
March 2012 • Page 9
N E W S
Marketing
students
pay visit
to capitol
By DELANA HARRIS
Business Marketing Instructor
The PRCC business marketing and management program
traveled to Jackson in
February to tour the state
capitol and to visit the
Mississippi Sports Hall of
Fame.
While touring the capitol,
the students met Senators
Billy Hudson of Hattiesburg
and Tony Smith of Picayune
and Representatives Toby
Barker of Hattiesburg and
Mark Formby of Picayune.
The group was recognized
from the Senate floor as
guests by Sen. Smith.
Students learned how policies and laws that are created
at the state level can affect
local businesses in terms of
taxes, property rights, and
regulations.
The students also received
information about the history
of the capitol and how managerial styles differ from each
new governor.
The hostess for the capitol
explained to the group that
since the election had just
taken place in November;
many new members of both
the house and senate were
still learning and exploring
their new “home” and role responsibilities.
The students then visited
the Sports Hall of Fame museum. Representatives from the
museum explained to the students that Mississippi is one
of few states that has a sports
hall of fame.
Students learned the importance of the museum and the
marketability that it brings
not only to Mississippians but
to all visitors of the state.
Seeing memorabilia from future National Football League
Hall of Famers such as Brett
Favre and Eli Manning was
exciting as well as seeing
items from current Hall of
Fame members like former
NFL star Jerry Rice and major
league
baseball
legend
“Dizzy” Dean.
The museum is privately
supported and funded making
marketing, public relations,
and recruitment of donations
a top priority.
Pictured are the PRCC business marketing students, instructors and administrators who made the trip to Jackson to visit the State Capitol and the
Sports Hall of Fame and Museum. From left: First row - Gwen Smith,
PRCC Career Tech Director; Delana Harris and Carol Williams, business
marketing instructors, Deanna Dearman of Poplarville, Dominica Melton of
Poplarville, Graham Tant of Hattiesburg, Sandy Pennington of Bay St
Louis. Second row - Dr. Scott Alsobrooks, Vice President of Workforce &
Economic Development; Heather Duckett of Picayune, Raqi Beech of
Carriere, Reagan Davis of Hattiesburg, Lydia Alexius of Poplarville, Victoria
Adams of Hattiesburg, Mysti Dupree of Poplarville, JoAnn Burge of
Columbia, Alex Singley of Columbia, Cole Coe of Bay St Louis, JoAnna
Baughman of Columbia and Janee Townsend of Purvis.
Bottom line: GOP
faces uphill climb
By JIM WALSH
the much less mean and nasty
candidates (that would be
Santorum, mostly) are after.
Republican candidate Rick
Almost from the beginning
Santorum and his cadre of of the campaign season
conservative partisans must Romney has been the prefeel like New Orleans Saints sumptive favorite to secure
fans when the San Francisco the GOP’s nomination for the
49ers had Joe Montana and Oval Office. Because of the
the Saints had, well, not Joe egregiously outrageous and
Montana: “The more we win,
eminently dangerthe farther behind
ous
Citizens
we get!”
United decision (a
Santorum, the
decision favored by
former
senator
a supremely confrom Pennsylvania,
servative Supreme
won
the
Court), Big Money
Republican presicorporations and
dential primaries
Wall Street finanin the Deep South
cial mutual funds
states
of
can pour literally
Mississippi and
tens of millions of
Alabama on March
dollars into “super
13, and yet fell six Jim Walsh
PAC” slush funds
delegates
behind
anonymously
and
frontrunner Mitt Romney in
tamper with the democratic
the overall count.
Due to proportional voting process with virtual impunity.
If you were to ask Mitt if
in the two southern states and
Romney’s success in primaries these corporations are people
in Hawaii and American and possess the same rights,
Samoa, the former governor of privileges, and protections as
Massachusetts came out half a the individual citizen, he
would flash that toothy smirk
dozen delegates to the good.
Things are even bleaker for and answer in the affirmative.
former Speaker of the House (Here I would like to insert
Newt Gingrich. Eschewing one of my favorite left-leaning
campaigning in many north- bumper stickers that I just reern primaries, the Georgian cently spotted, “I’ll believe
focused almost exclusively on corporations are people when
his “southern strategy” woo- the state of Texas executes
ing ultra-conservative, reli- one.”)
So it should come as no surgious, reactionary, rural
prise that Romney has out
Republicans.
Unfortunately, these are the fundraised, out spent, and out
all
of
his
very same constituents that advertised
Instructor of Political Science
Republican rivals. Romney
also commands an almost
two-to-one lead in the overall
delegate count as well.
For those of us who are inclined to policy debates and
political wonkishness, the
struggle within the Republican
Party of 2012 is fascinating
and perhaps of more than just
temporary interest.
The contest is largely over
the soul and the future of the
conservative party between
old-line Wall Street, pro-business, country club (and mostly white male) Republicans
and Tea Party, religious, reactionary, rural (and mostly
white male) Republicans.
While the former tend to
focus on economics, jobs, and
defense, the latter veer toward
“social issues” like gay marriage, women’s reproductive
rights, and immigration in all
its malevolent, malicious, and
mendacious forms.
As someone who is very left
of center, I have to enjoy the
spectacle of the GOP’s “circular firing squad” that this primary season has become. But
I believe that this is, indeed,
very serious business.
The underlying tension is
the struggle between ideological “purity” - the Republican
candidate must be in every
sense and in every shrill sentence anti-gay, anti-abortion,
anti-immigrant, anti-big government, anti-Obama - and political “electability.”
Large segments of the
American electorate are
turned off by Gingrich’s
schoolyard bullying and
Santorum’s sanctimonious
screwiness and xenophobic
goofiness.
Independents,
single
women, working class city
dwellers, and non-religious urbanites will find it hard to find
a home in a party dominated
by uber-conservative evangelicals and extreme fundamentalists of all stripes.
And because President
Barack Obama does appeal to
many people in these groups, I
believe he will be reelected.
For these reasons, I think
young Mississippians of all
points on the political spectrum should keep a watchful
eye not only on this political
season, but also the midterm
elections of 2014 and the presidential elections of 2016.
There is, of course, the issue
of the true identity of the
Democratic Party - liberal
/progressive versus hardnosed pragmatism - but perhaps I’ll leave that for later ruminations.
March 2012 • Page 10
The DRAWL
N E W S
Pledging ceremony
Honors Institute
students spend time
with PRCC alumni
By DARION MATTHEWS
Mr. Herrin’s majors at Pearl River were civil
engineering and drafting and design. Then he
was graced with a summer job at Shell Oil.
As May quickly approaches, many high Later, he called Shell and went to work for the
school students are debating about where to go corporation full time.
to school in the fall.
While working at Shell, Mr. Herrin married
The choices: Whether to go to a university Joyce Whitfield; however, nine weeks later he
or junior college, or to what community col- was drafted into military service. After the war,
lege to attend. There are many different choic- he went back to his job at Shell.
es. Students are faced with some tough deciHe revealed that his starting income was
sions.
$420 per month ($4,000 per year), and during
As a member of the Pearl River Community his 40 years working for Shell, his income grew
College Honors Institute’s inaugural class, two to $96,000 per year.
of my fellow colleagues and I had the privilege
Mr. Herrin said he is “so appreciative of
to sit down and talk with two of Pearl River’s
Pearl River that he wants to give
most notable alumni. They were
back to the college because of his
more than happy to tell us about
success.” And he manages to give
what life was like on campus in their
back in the form of a scholarship
time and where they have gone
that is in both his wife’s and his
since their time at Pearl River.
name.
First, we talked to Mrs. Verlene
Along with asking these wonderCole of Oak Grove who attended
ful people about the experience
PRCC from 1950-1951.
here at Pearl River, we also took the
“The only buildings were those
liberty of asking them about a few
on the circle, and all the students
of the things taking place here on
walked to campus,” said Mrs. Cole.
campus. For instance, the Honors
She told us that when she was a stuInstitute was just started in the fall
dent here, there were no clubs on Verlene Cole
of 2011.
campus, but she was a member of the
Both Mrs. Cole and Mr. Herrin said that it is
women’s basketball team.
wonderful that the institute has been started at
She said that her time here was some of the the college. To be accepted into the Honors
best years of her life and that she made lifeInstitute at Pearl River, a student must score
long friends that she is still in touch with
25 or higher on the ACT and have a 3.4 GPA.
today.
In conjunction with the beginning of the
Mrs. Cole attended Pearl River to major in
Honors Institute, the college also broke ground
elementary education. Fortunately, after her
on the building of a new 1,000-seat performing
first year here at Pearl River, Mrs. Cole was
lucky enough to acquire a summer job at First arts center last fall.
Mrs. Cole said the performing arts center,
National Bank. Her first two weeks involved
named
the
Ethel
Holden
learning how to work the bank’s
Brownstone
Center
for
the
new adding machine.
Performing Arts, will be a great
She said her starting salary was
asset to the college. Since the old
$140 per month, and she worked
auditorium was simply a stage ather way up to earning $40,000 per
tached to Moody Hall, the new peryear. She became the 1st female
forming arts center will provide an
Vice President at First National
adequate amount of space to showBank.
case all the talent that can be seen
To try to help students come to
on campus.
Pearl River Community College,
“You can have a successful career
Mrs. Cole has five different scholarwith just a junior college degree,”
ships including one that is in her
said Mrs. Cole.
own name.
Frances Herrin
If you decide that you want to
Then we sat down and chatted
begin your college education at a junwith Mr. Francis Herrin of Hattiesburg, who
ior college rather than at a university, why not
attended Pearl River in 1955.
Mr. Herrin recounted that girls could not get start your education at Mississippi’s Pioneer
in a car that was on campus, and that on Junior College, Pearl River Community
Wednesday nights, the boys and girls would College.
■ Darion Matthews is a freshman student
leave campus to go to a movie theater in town.
He informed us that he had a job on campus from Richton. Her article is the first in a series
and that he drove the school bus, named “Ole of articles produced by the PRCC Honors
Institute for publicatioon in The Drawl.
Pearlie.”
Special to The Drawl
Board meeting notice
The April meeting of the Pearl River Community College
Board of Trustees will be held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, April 10,
at the Forrest County Center in Hattiesburg. The meeting will
be held in the milti-purpose room in Building 5.
Above, first-year students in
the PRCC associate degree
nursing program recite the
Nightingale Pledge at the
close of the March 5 Pledging Ceremony. The ceremony symbolized their commitment to the nursing profession.
Left, instructor Holly Carney,
center, pins a name badge
on Lisa Smith of Foxworth
during the ceremony at the
Malone Chapel.
Below, instructor Susan
Campbell pins his name
badge on student Austin
Korbe of Sumrall during a
Pledging Ceremony for firstyear nursing students.
Staff profile
NAME: Reynada Head
FAMILY: Denis Head, almost three years. Children: Shawn, 15;
Jolie, 9; and Karson, 19 months.
RESIDENCE: Poplarville
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND: Graduated from Marshfield
High in 1998, Currently working on AA at PRCC.
POSITION AT PRCC: Work Study & Scholarship Advisor
TEACHING EXPERIENCE: None (At least not in a professional
field. I have been teaching Sunday School for 7 years).
Reynada Head
FAVORITE BOOK
K: Bible
FAVORITE FOOD: Chocolate, grilled sirloin, greens and cornbread
FAVORITE MOVIE: I really don’t have an all-time favorite. My children and I do enjoy
watching Star Wars and the Chronicles of Narnia Series.
FAVORITE MUSIC: Southern Gospel
FAVORITE VACATION TRIP: I haven’t really had a vacation. The closest thing I have been
on was my honeymoon in ‘09, but that was just to Alabama. I hope to take our family to Disney
World one day.
POSITIVE ASPECTS OF WORK
KING AT PRCC: I have enjoyed working at PRCC since I
have started here in 2005. I have walked through some pretty dark valleys, it has been the help
of my PRCC family and God that have brought me through. I appreciate the positive support
of the people around me who have touched the life of my children and me.
YOUR ADVICE FOR STUDENTS: Allow the things that life throws at you shape you, to
make you a better person and a witness to the lives of others that have been in your shoes.
“Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and
with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.” Luke 10:27 KJV
FCA campus visit
All PRCC students
With each three Albums you buy - the Fourth one is Free - ( Dvds Cds - Video games) buy 2 get the Third one Free - most will be Marked
Down - $1 to $3 each)
Mitch Williams, regional director for the Fellowship of Chrtistian Athletes, paid a visit to
Pearl River Community College during the second-annual Breast Cancer awareness softball games March 6 at Lady Wildcat Softball Stadium. The FCA program at PRCC meets
weekly at 7 p.m. in Malone Chapel.
The DRAWL
March 2012 • Page 11
N E W S
Hancock Center:
Planting seeds
for prosperity
By RAYMUNDA BARNES
Director of Hancock Center
At a time when rain seems
almost inevitable and washing
one’s car seems almost a daily
necessity due to pollen, things
are blossoming at the
Hancock Center.
There have been many exciting events to take place at
the center.
Math instructor Craig
Carrigee started and led the
first PRCC scholar team. On
March 1, the team competed
in the third annual Scholar’s
Bowl Competition at the Gulf
Coast Campus of the
University
of
Southern
Mississippi.
The team consisted of four
students from the Hancock
Center. The students, Casey
Butler, Amanda Fouasnon,
Jamie Thompson and Lexi
Carter, were a representation
from the Hancock County
area.
Under the moniker of
Schrodinger’s Wildcats, the
team competed against other
teams from USM and
Mississippi
Gulf
Coast
Community College. The
Scholar’s Bowl consisted of
eight teams from three schools
and consisted of three rounds
(preliminary, semi-final, final).
The format of the competition
was similar to that of Jeopardy
with multiple questions from
different topics.
The Wildcats spent two to
three days a week preparing
by practicing with Classroom
Jeopardy. In the competition,
the Wildcats defeated the
USM Student Association
team in the first round by a
narrow margin on the final
question but were then defeated later in the semi-finals.
Topics
ranged
from
Psychology and Technology to
Nursery Rhymes and Bridges.
When asked about the competition, Mr. Carrigee said,
“This was everyone’s first time
in the team’s first Scholar’s
Bowl. It was an awesome beginning. I feel that we were
very competitive. I am looking
forward to competing again
next year and improving the
outcome.”
One scholar, Butler said,
“Scholar’s Bowl was an extremely fun experience. I have
one suggestion for any team
wanting to attend it next year.
Practice recalling information
quickly and run drills with a
buzzer.”
Fouasnon said, “Scholar’s
Bowl was very exciting.
Anyone who enjoys trivia
should experience it. It was so
exciting to test how much one
really knows. The hardest part
was the buzzer. Overall, it was
a great experience.”
■ On March 13, another exciting event was born. This
day marked the first annual
Spring Fling at the Hancock
Center.
This event was designed to
give current Hancock Center
students a chance to enjoy a
little taste of campus life while
also being open to current
high school juniors and seniors from the Hancock County
community.
The students had an opportunity to enjoy a beautiful afternoon. They tossed the football around, danced to the latest music and feasted on hamburgers and hot dogs. The
event was a success that could
not have taken place without
the help of many remarkable
people.
We at the Hancock Center,
the faculty and staff, would
like to express sincere gratitude and appreciation to Dr.
Martha Lou Smith, Vice
President
of
General
Education and Technology
Services; Tom Smith, Director
of Student Life; Casey Rawls,
Director of Recruitment; Janet
Braswell,
PRCC
Public
Relations Assistant; Frances
Rawls, Director of College
Stores and the staff of the
Hancock Center bookstore;
Frank Ladner, Chairman of
PRCC Board of Trustees, and
Ricky Ladner.
Thanks to the hard work of
many, this first- ever event was
a success.
Hancock High School student Brittany Wane, left, and her
mother, PRCC Hancock Center student April Wane, talk
with Casey Rawls, PRCC director of recruitment and orientation, during Spring Fling at the Hancock Center.
WLOX anchor Jeff Lawson (left) looks on during the
Scholar’s Bowl competition, featuring from left, PRCC instructor Craig Carrigee, and PRCC students Casey Butler,
Amanda Fouasnon and Jamie Thompson. Not pictured is
Lexi Carter.
The Wobble line dance got folks up and moving during the
Spring Fling. Dancers are, left row from front to back, T’Kia
Smith of Hattiesburg, Courtney Lee of Ovett (barely visible) and Justin Keys of Hattiesburg; on the right are Harli
Favre of Bay St. Louis, Austa Chasez of Waveland and
Hancock Center instructor Michelle Wilson.
Students help themselves to hamburgers and hot dogs
during the first annual Spring Fling at the Hancock Center.
Career Fair brings students, employers together
POPLARVILLE - Pearl
River Community College students got a head start on finding jobs after graduation at the
annual Career Fair March 14.
Approximately 30 employers participated, using the
event to collect resumes and
tell students about the career
opportunities they offer.
The companies ranged from
small local businesses, such as
Jefferson Davis Community
Hospital and Pearl River
County Hospital and Nursing
Home, to major manufacturers, including Nissan of
Canton and DAK Americas in
Bay St. Louis.
“Our company has come
here before,” said DAK
Americas production trainer
Brad Ladner.
“We’ve actually got two guys
from the (PRCC) instrumentation and electronics program.
We’re looking to co-op with
some of the folks here.”
The company makes resins
for use in producing a wide
range of containers, including
soft drink bottles and pharmaceutical containers.
Bringing a number of
prospective employers to campus gives PRCC students an
opportunity to learn more
about where they might want
to work and, in some instances, apply for jobs, said
Dr. Ann Moore, PRCC
Counseling Center director
and Career Fair coordinator.
Electronics technology student Jacob Weatherford of
Richton found several jobs he
would like to have.
“Stion - I turned in a resume
for them,” he said. “South
Mississippi Electric and definitely Nissan. I thought we did
pretty good.”
Production trainer Brad Ladner, left, talks to Pearl River
Community College students Michael Ingram of Columbia,
Dexter Ladner of Necaise and Dexter Smith of Jackson
about job opportunities at DAK Americas in Bay St. Louis.
The company, which already employs several PRCC graduates, participated in the annual PRCC Career Fair on
March 14.PRCC Public Relations photo
March 2012 • Page 12
The DRAWL
N E W S
Zum-bathon Dance Party
Student Support Services
big part of TRiO program
By GEORGIA FIELD
Student Support Services Counselor
Did you know that Student Support Services
is part of the U.S. Department of Education’s
TRiO Program, and we have been a part of
PRCC’s Poplarville campus for more than 20
years?
This year, to celebrate National TRiO Day,
Student Support Services hosted a “Wise Old
Owl” decorating contest. Students and tutors
who entered the contest received a ceramic
owl to decorate and return.
Fifteen students returned beautifully and
creatively decorated owls, and votes were cast
for two weeks by bringing in canned
goods/food pantry items with one canned
good equaling one vote. In addition to SSS students casting votes, we had many non-members bring in food pantry items to vote in the
contest.
We would like to especially thank Ms. Angie
Barber and her students who participated in
the event. We collected more than eight boxes
of canned goods that were donated to
Brother’s Keeper in Poplarville to benefit those
who are in need of food.
Our winner of the “Wise Old Owl Contest”
was Victoria Carr with her night/day themed
owl. Second-place winner was Grisela AmadoSomerville with her jewel and feather encrusted owl, and third-place winner was Chastitie
Polk with her realistically painted owl. Victoria
received a $25 gift card from Subway for her
first-place win.
If you have never heard of our department,
you may be wondering what is Student
Support Services? In 1965, Congress began
creating a series of programs to help
Americans overcome class and social barriers
to higher education.
These services, geared toward low-income
and first-generation students, were called
Special Programs for Students from
Disadvantaged Backgrounds. Today they are
known as the Federal TRiO Programs. At
present, TRiO Program oversees nine different
programs.
Student Support Services was created to
provide academic support for Pell Grant recipients because research had shown that a large
percentage of students were not being successful in college with just Pell Grant money and
no academic support.
Student Support Services has gone through
many changes throughout the years, and it is
more difficult than ever to get a SSS grant
funded.
Continued funding of Student Support
Services depends on yearly performance
progress goals, which we have met every year
for the past 20-plus years.
WHAT IS TRiO
TRiO stands for the original three programs that
offered academic support for student receiving
Pell Grants (Upward Bound, Talent Search, and
Student Support Services).
If you see the TRiO logo on a flyer or
brochure, you know it is Student Support
Services because the Federal Government requires us to publish that we are a TRiO funded
program.
Currently, PRCC’s Student Support Services
Program serves 160 students who are low-income, first-generation college students, and/or
have a documented disability.
The program provides academic advising, financial and economic literacy instruction, assistance in locating other resources on campus, and opportunities specific to the needs
and interests of students as they pursue bachelor degrees. Throughout the year, SSS students have access to one-on-one tutoring, program computers, other educational resources
and sponsored activities such as cultural field
trips and tours of the campuses of four-year institutions.
Students also receive assistance in applying
for financial aid and scholarships. On average,
students enrolled in Student Support Services
persist (stay in school), advance and graduate
at higher rates than similar non-SSS students.
All services provided by Student Support
Services are no cost to the students.
■ Are you interested in joining Student
Support Services? Stop by the Jefff Davis
Building, Room 109 to find out if you qualify
and begin your application process. You can
allso call 601-403-1266 for information about
what Student Support Services can do to help
you.
A year ago, Kay Kammer, PRCC Group Exercise Instructor, started Zumba fitness classes and the popularity of these classes has grown among students, faculty/staff, and community members. The motto for Zumba is “Ditch the workout and join the party” and
Zumba is just that, so much fun that you don’t know you’re working out. PRCC will hold
its first Zumbathon at the PRCC Wellness Center on Wednesday, March 28 from 4:306:30 p.m. All profits will go to the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s “United We Dance to
cure ALS-Augie’s Quest” charity. The price $10. Call Kay Kammer at 601-590-3199 to reserve your spot. Let’s make every move COUNT! Pictured from left are Tonia Moody,
Georgia Field, Kay Kammer, Grisela Amado-Somerville and Tara Rouse.
Faculty, staff get involved
in Wellness Center activities
By JAMIE DICKSON
Assistant Director of Wellness Center
Wise Old Owl contest winner Victoria Carr
of Mize.
The numbers speak for themselves when it
comes to faculty, staff, and exercise.
More than 65 faculty and staff members
have joined the Wellness Center this spring.
The F.A.S.T. Track challenges all faculty and
staff to complete 15 workouts to receive a free
summer membership and 20 workouts to receive a free fall semester membership.
Although free memberships are fantastic incentives, the ultimate goal is for each of them
to maintain a regular exercise regimen
throughout the entire semester.
Each faculty and staff member who complete 40 workouts by the semester’s end will
receive a wellness center t-shirt.
Congratulations to the following faculty and
staff. As of February, this group has completed 20 workouts, qualifying them for a free fall
2012 semester membership: Joyce Buie,
Cathy Dean, Chris Flynn, Georgia Field,
Valerie Horne, Eric Leatherwood, Hope
McKellip, Tonia Moody, Sharon Nightengale,
Rebecca Pullens, and Melinda Spiers.
We encourage all faculty and staff to become
members of the Wellness Center. If you are not
a current member, your first semester membership is free.
As a new member, you will be provided an
orientation of the facility, which includes a
blood pressure evaluation, an exercise program, and participation in the F.A.S.T. Track
program.
■ Wellness Center upcoming events:
Wednesday, March 28, 4:30 p.m. - Zumbathon Dance Party for ALS, developed and
organized by Kay Kammer.
Non-perishable food drive for Easter, now
through April 6.
Fun Run every Wednesday at 3 p.m. in
April.
Many of us face challenges
we eventually must ovecome
By TONIA MOODY
ADA/Civil Rights Coordinator
The Pearl River Community College Student Support Services program recently collected
canned food for Brothers Keepers through a decorate-the-owl contest. Students voted on
the best owl by donating food items. Pictured are Brothers Keepers vice president Wayne
Willoughby, from left, counselor Georgia Field, students Vanessa Mitchell of Purvis,
Janeria Magee of Sandy Hook and Debra Thompson of Carriere; and Brothers Keepers
personnel Mike Elliott, Susan Fuller and John Floyd.
Over the years of working
with and advocating for individuals with disabilities and
seeing the daily challenges
they face, I feel it has allowed
me to be more sensitive to
their individual challenges
and has enabled me to be
more thankful for the blessings in my own life.
As an advocate for those
who suffer from daily physical
or mental challenges, I try to
remind myself that for any
one of us it all could change in
an instant and I try not to take
things in life for granted or
too serious.
In life, we may not all face
the same type of challenges or
even the same severity of
problems; however, no one’s
life is without problems.
I was recently told by a student that they wish they were
like “normal teenage students” and did not have any
problems.
Notice to all PRCC students
As we begin to make preparations for the end of the spring semester, please be aware of the following grade policy at Pearl River
Community College. Below is a copy of the policy, which can also be
located in the Cat Country Guide, our student handbook, on our website at www.prcc.edu under student information.
For more information concerning the grading policy, contact the appropriate vice-president on your campus.
GRADING POLICY:
A college approved grading scale will be followed by all instructors.
PROCEDURE:
The following grading scale will be used for all credit classes provided by the college.
A ........................ 90-100 / Excellent
B ................................. 80-89 / Good
C ........................... 70-79 / Average
D ................................... 60-69 / Poor
F ........................ Below 60 / Failure W .................................... Withdrawn
P ................. ........................ Passed
AP ..................................... AP Credit
Z ........................................... CLEP
AU ............................................ Audit
I ....................................... Incomplete
(1) For credit classes during the Fall and Spring semesters, a minimum of one major grade (hour test, major report, etc.) and four minor
grades will be given prior to the progress grade
determination. A minimum of one major grade and four minor
grades will be given between the progress grade period and the final
exam.
(2) For credit classes during the Summer semester a minimum of
two major grades and six minor grades are required. Each instructor
will provide progress information to students.
(3) The semester average will be determined as follows:
MINOR GRADES ................................. 15-35%
MAJOR GRADES ................................. 30-60%
FINAL EXAM ....................................... 25-35%
(4) A final examination will be administered in each class during
the designated exam period and in accordance with an approved exam
schedule. The exam will be comprehensive in nature for the content
covered throughout the semester.
(5) All class grades are to be recorded in a grade book and submitted electronically at the end of each semester for review and filing.
(6) A students who is dismissed from class because of excessive absenses or as a result of disciplinary action will receive a grade of “F”
regardless of the grade average on the date of dismissal.
(7) An instructor may assign an “I” (incomplete), in the rare circumstance in which a student has not completed the requirements for
a course as a result of an accident, illness, or other approved reason.
An incomplete grade is to be awarded only if the student and instructor have communicated prior to the submission of semester
grades. If the requirements for the course are not completed, and the
grade for the course is not assigned before the end of the next Fall or
Spring semester, the grade of “I” will be changed to “F,” unless otherwise provided for or approved by the dean or director over the instructional area.
(A student who takes the final examination for a course may not be
assigned a grade of “I”).
(8) Each instructor must include specific grading information in the
course syllabus as to how the final grade for the students will be determined. This information will be distributed to students at the beginning of the course.
(9) Students receiving Veterans Administration educational benefits under P.L. 90-77 must make a 2.0 quality point average on all hours
attempted each semester after the last day to drop a course to remain
in good standing with the Veterans Administration.
(10) Students shall not be involved in activities of grading or duplicating tests for instructors.
(11) A variety of examination methods are utilized for distance education courses. These may include the following:
■ Examinations administered over the web,
■ Examinations administered using conferencing software or
other methods.
It is obvious that this person thought that while they
faced difficulties in their life,
everyone else’s life is perfect
and without challenges.
Sometimes I think we may
look at other people’s lives
through rose-colored glasses,
thinking “they really have it
made” or “if only we could
have their life everything
would be so much easier.”
My response to this individual was “what is normal”
since we all have challenges in
our life. Some people may
just disguise their challenges
better.
This has led me to believe
that we should determine in
advance how we will handle
the troubles that will come
into our lives, because if we
don’t have them now, they
will be coming.
We can either use them to
strengthen us and make us
better or we can let them encumber us and succumb to
them.
I’m reminded of a story I recently heard about the evolution of the pearl. As we all
know, pearls are one of the
most precious natural jewels.
I for one love pearl jewelry
and see pearls as very elegant
and beautiful; however, this
beautiful jewel is actually the
product of irritation.
Oysters have a very sensitive skin and when an oyster’s
shell is pierced and a grain of
sand or a rock gets into the
shell of that oyster, it begins
to cause an irritation.
The body of the oyster is so
sensitive that it will release a
healing fluid that puts a protective covering over the irritant and that covering actually heals the oyster’s wound
and that healed wound is
what we refer to as a pearl.
Pearls are not created without some level of hurt, pain,
or trouble.
However, that oyster is not
defeated by the irritation that
it endures, and in fact, it turns
it into something that is beautiful.
As we are faced with real
challenges in life, I hope we
will remember the story of the
pearl and will endure and
overcome the challenges we
face and make something
meaningful out of them.
If you’re facing a challenge
or difficulty in your life today,
don’t forget that there is help
available to you.
Don’t be afraid to ask for assistance. Seeking help is a
strength, not a weakness.
BSU garage sale
Customers look over the merchandise Saturday, March 10,
at the PRCC Baptist Student Union’ s spring garage sale.
Proceeds will go to mission projects. PRCC Public
Relations photo
The DRAWL
March 2012 • Page 13
N E W S
Create your e-portfolio;
check those emails
By Dr. AMY TOWNSEND
Title III Director
Mississippi Home Corporation principals met with Pearl River Community College officials
March 5 in Hattiesburg to discuss the Home Saver program available to Mississippi residents. Pictured from left are PRCC President William Lewis, Dr. Ben Mokry and Jenny
Layton of Mississippi Home Corporation and Joe Garvin, PRCC’s Home Saver recruiter.
Students can still qualify for
mortgage payment assistance
POPLARVILLE - Representatives of the
Mississippi Home Corp.’s Home Saver program met with Pearl River Community College
officials March 5 to present an update on the
program which is designed to assist students
who may be eligible for help with their house
payments.
The Mississippi Home Corp.’s Home Saver
program started last April 1 through a grant
from the U.S. Department of Treasury Hardest
Hit Fund.
Joe Garvin is the Home Saver recruiter at
PRCC.
“This program is for people who have lost
their jobs,” said Dr. Ben Mokry, a representative of the Home Saver program.
“It is still necessary. Our goal is to help 3,800
applicants. We have a positive message. We’re
seeing the program working. It is useful to us to
have the community college connection. It is
important that we continue with the education
aspects of this program.”
The goal of Home Saver is to provide qualified homeowners with the time needed to find
gainful employment and to increase their
household income without the worry of potential foreclosure. Mississippi Home Corp. partnered with the state’s 15 community colleges to
reach people who have returned to school because of the current economic conditions.
According to Garvin, students who qualify
for the Home Saver Program can have their
mortgage completely paid for up to 24 months
while they are completing their training or
community college hours.
Dr. Mokry told the group that the application
process has kept the program from moving
along as fast as they would like.
“Right now, the application process takes too
long,” he said. “However, rules have been
changed to make the process a little easier.”
Some of the eligibility requirements include:
■ Reduction in income due to job loss or underemployment causing the homeowner to be
unable to afford the current mortgage payment.
■ Must be delinquent on mortgage payments
or facing imminent risk of foreclosure.
■ Monthly mortgage payment must be
greater than 31 percent of gross monthly
household income.
■ Property must be the borrower’s primary
residence.
■ Borrower must have owned the property
for at least 12 months.
For homeowners who qualify, the program
will pay the monthly mortgage payment for 12
months. The homeowner can receive help for
an additional 12 months by acquiring a certification or degree from a state college within 24
months.
Garvin adds that the benefits paid by the
Home Saver Program do not count as income
for tax purposes or for the FAFSA. Qualifying
for and benefitting from this program will not
adversely impact a student’s Pell Grant or other
financial aid.
“Our goal is to get as many students involved
in the process as we can,” Garvin said.
To begin the application process which is online and convenient, the Mississippi Home
Saver
Program
is
found
at
www.mshomesaver.com. For information, contact Garvin at 601-403-1048, 601-466-6068 or
at jgarvin@prcc.edu.
College Fair at Forrest County Center
Ole Miss admissions counselor Ty Allushuski (right) fields questions from PRCC students
during a college fair at the Forrest County Center on March 6. The students are from left,
Tosha Bass of Petal, Misty Nelson of Lawrence County and Haleigh McNabb of Columbia.
Larissa Bass (right), admissions counselor for William Carey University, gives Pearl River
Community College student Toy Zarraga of Petal some transfer documents during a college fair at the Forrest County Center.
Pearl River
Community
College student
Rose Emmons of
Sumrall (left) listens as University
of Southern
Mississippi representative Bentley
Anderson discusses fields of study
during a college
fair at the Forrest
County Center on
March 6.
The new PRCC Student ePortfolio pilot has approximately 150 students volunteering to work with our staff to
create an e-Portfolio.
PRCC Student e-Portfolios
offer students an online platform for showcasing their academic work and may also be
used to seek scholarships for
those students wishing to continue their education at another institution.
As you develop your e-portfolio while you’re a student,
you’ll be able to “merge” your
personal, educational and career goals into one site that
demonstrates the unique you.
To sign up for your Student
e-Portfolio account, come by
the Student Success Center
(Crosby Hall), email us for information @ ssc.prcc.edu, or
call 601-403-1421.
■ Operation: Check Your
Email Campaign
Peer leaders and members of
SGA are partnering together
for a campus wide “Check
Your Email” campaign.
This campaign begins
March 26 and will run until the
date of Spring Fling. Each
week students will be emailed
a trivia question and will have
48 hours from the time the
email is sent to respond.
Calendar
of events
■ Monday, April 2 - Early
registration begins for summer
and fall semesters.
■ RiverRoad and The Jazz
Cats spring concert, 7 p.m.,
Olivia Bender Cafeteria.
■ Friday, April 6 - Good
Friday holiday.
■ Monday, April 9 - Last day
to withdraw with a guaranteed
“W” grade.
■ Thursday and Friday, April
12-13 - The Apple Tree, 7 p.m.,
Bender Cafeteria; tickets $5.
nday, April 16 - PRCC
■ Mon
Symphonic Band spring concert, 7 p.m. Bender Cafeteria
■ Thursday, April 19 Awards Day, 3 p.m., Olivia
Bender Cafeteria.
■ PRCC Woman-Less Beauty
Pageant, 7:30 p.m., Olivia
Bender Cafeteria.
■ Lifetime Achievement Hall
of Fame Gala - 6 p.m., Southern
Oaks Home and Garden,
Hattiesburg; tickets are $100;
601 403-1183 for information.
■ Tuesday, April 24 - Forrest
County Center Spring Fling and
the Grill-off, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
■ PRCC Talent Show - 7:30
p.m., Olivia Bender Cafeteria.
■ Monday, April 30 - Honors
Recitals, 7 p.m., Malone Chapel
■ Wednesday, May 2 - Forrest
County Center Awards Day, 11
a.m., multipurpose room.
■ End of Semester Barbeque,
3 p.m., football practice field
■ Night class final exams.
■ Thursday, May 3 - Night
class final exams.
Students who participate will
be eligible for door prizes to be
given out at Spring Fling.
■ Forrest County Center
SSC updates
The Student Success Center
is busier than ever. Students
visit the computer lab daily to
work on assignments and class
projects.
The Peer Zone is used for
peer sessions, campus organization meetings, and individual
quiet study. The SSC continues
to recruit volunteers who tutor
and assist in the publicity of
the Student Success Center
and its services.
This semester peer mentors
have been working with individual students on study techniques and test taking techniques. These students are
benefiting from the personal
time with a peer mentor on
how to acquire and utilize
these skills.
Peer mentors are here to
teach study skills, time management, note taking techniques, test taking skills, and
other college survival necessities.
If you need a peer mentor or
have a student who needs a
peer mentor, call or email Dr.
Purvis
(601-554-5554;
apurvis@prcc.edu).
■ Pooplarville SSC updates
Supplemental Instruction (SI)
This semester at the
Student Success Center in
Poplarville we are piloting
Supplemental Instruction (SI)
in English courses.
The SI Leaders provide facilitated group study for students
in Beginning English, Intermediate English, Comp I and
Comp II. During these study
sessions, students work on
learning the fundamentals to
writing successful papers and
doing well on tests.
They take practice tests, do
lots of hands-on games and
puzzles, and review each
other’s writing.
If you’re interested in being
an SI Leader in the Fall 2012
semester for either math or
English, we are taking applications. Come by and see Dr.
Leslie Butler to pick up an application.
■ Peer Mentoring
Peer Mentors have been
working with students in two
sections of College Study
Skills and two sections of
Essential College Skills. They
work with students on different activities in class as well as
provide assistance and advice
for students outside of class.
Peer Mentors are also available to help all students with
things like learning campus resources, developing a social
network, study tips, time management, critical thinking, and
much more.
Staff profile
NAME: Robert Maynard
FAMILY: Not married, both parents living on Gulf Coast; 1 brother,
1 sister.
RESIDENCE: Hattiesburg
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND:
St.Stanislaus High School, Bay St.
Louis;
B.S.,
William
Carey
University, Biology, 1993; M.S.,
University of Southern Mississippi,
Biology Education, 2006; Ph. D., Robert Maynard
The
University
of
Southern
Mississippi, Biology Education, anticipated 2013.
CLASSES TEACHING AT PRCC: General Biology,
Principles of Biology, Anatomy and Physiology I and II
TEACHING EXPERIENCE: 8 years
RITE BOOK: The Help
FAVOR
FAVORITE FOOD: Mother’s Corn Soup with homemade
rolls
FAVORITE MOVIE: Star Wars (the entire series)
FAVORITE MUSIC: Techno/Trance/Electronica/House
FAVORITE VACATION TRIP: Belize
POSITIVE ASPECTS OF TEACHING AT PRCC: Working
with the most upbeat, energetic, enthusiastic educators.
YOUR ADVICE FOR STUDENTS: Live for today, but plan
for tomorrow. Embrace life every day as the gift that it is. Hug
your parents often, and cherish every moment you have with
them. And be kind to your children (including nieces and
nephews); they pick in which rest home you’ll live out your
days.
March 2012 • Page 14
The DRAWL
S P O R T S
2012 PRCC baseball team
POPLARVILLE - Members of the 2012 Pearl River Community College baseball team include from left: First row - Kyle Liberto of Hancock, Derek Sanders of Mendenhall,
Anthony Lusco of Bay High, Forrest Dungan of Columbia, Tyler Willis of Saltillo, Brandon
Pennington of Sumrall, Aaron Lee of Pearl River Central, Chase Toussaint of Petal and
Galen Doucet of Gulfport. Second row - Jacoby Langley of Petal, Matt Linton of East
Central, Tyler Summers of Greene County, Ryan Deemes of Chalmette, La., student assistant coach Justin Sones, assistant coach Zack Zulli, head coach Josh Hoffpauir, assistant coach Kyle Lindsey, student assistant coach Gatlin Steelman, Taylor Byrd of Petal,
Clint Willoughby of Clinton, Chase Chancellor of Hattiesburg and Eric Smith of Picayune.
Third row - Trevor Faust of Natchez, Tyler Moore of Mooreville, Chad Livingston of Slidell,
La., Braxton Lee of Picayune, Austin Carter of Sumrall, Ryan Best of Oak Grove, Martin
Anderson of Calhoun, La., Kollin Cannon of St. Stanislaus, Davontae Linear of Wayne
County, Chase Lewallen of Sumrall and manager Johnathan Crawford of Sumrall. Back
row - Bradley Rayborn of Purvis, Scott Ashford of Baton Rouge, La., Trace Robinson of
Purvis, Deon Fairley of Bassfield, Christian Talley of Hancock, Marcus Lawton of Biloxi,
Roy Gasaway of Pascagoula, Tyler Jordan of Bay High, Cody Conkle of Petal and Krisjon
Wilkerson of St. Stanislaus.
Team photo by Mitch Deaver.
Above left, freshman Braxton Lee, a freshman from Picayune, makes contact with the baseball in a game this season. Above left, sophomore Chad Livingston (33) slides home safely ahead of the throw in an earlier game. Photos by Mitch Deaver.
PRCC loses 2 to JCJC
Freshman pitcher Cody Conkle of Petal fires one to the plate.
POPLARVILLE
Arch-rival
Jones County shocked 19thranked Pearl River with an
MACJC South Division doubleheader sweep March 20, taking a
3-2 victory in the first game before
blowing it out with a lopsided 111 win in the nightcap.
Both teams are now 16-8 overall. Jones is 4-0 in the South
Division; PRCC 1-3.
In the first game, JCJC went up
1-0 in the second.
In the bottom of the frame,
Jones starter Vito Perna hit the
first Wildcat batters he faced with
pitches (Matt Linton out of East
Central High and Ryan Best of
Oak Grove High) before Braxton
Lee of Picayune High reached on
a fielder’s choice. Chase Toussaint
of Petal High followed with a
ground out to second, scoring
Linton to make it 2-1.
The Wildcats tied it up in the
bottom of the inning. Lead off
Chad Livingston was hit by a
pitch and scored from third two
outs later when Aaron Lee of
Pearl River Central reached on a
muffed called third strike.
Byrd (3-2) got the loss in fiveand-two-thirds innings on the
UPCOMING GAMES
March 31 - host E. Central, 1 p.m.
April 3 - at Southwest
April 6 - at Hinds
April 11 - host Gulf Coast, 4 p.m.
April 14 - at Jones JC
April 21 - host Co-Lin, 1 p.m.
April 25 - at East Central
April 28 - host Southwest, 1 p.m.
March 4-5 - State playoffs
mound. He gave up 10 hits, struck
out one and hit a batter; while
Lusco gave up two hits and hit a
batter after relieving in the sixth.
Krisjohn Wilkerson of St.
Stanislaus College doubled for the
Wildcats.
In the second game, Ryan
Milton (3-2) got the win in going
the five-inning distance, giving up
four hits,
Pennington (4-1) picked up his
first loss of the season in his twoand-two-thirds innings on the
mound. Pennington gave up seven
hits, walked one and hit a batter.
Braxton Lee led The River’s
four-hit effort with two singles,
while Lewallen doubled (one RBI)
and Aaron lee singled.
PRCC shortstop Aaron Lee shows off his athleticism as he
throws to first for an out in the Wildcats’ 3-2 loss to JCJC.
2012 PRCC softball team
POPLARVILLE - Members of the 2012 Pearl River Community College softball team include from left: First row - Neely McCrary of Petal, Ariel Russell of Biloxi, Brittany
LeBlanc of Lafayette, La., Janessa Dedeaux of Poplarville, Alyssa Graeter of Poplarville,
E’trario Warren of Meridian, Heather Hester of Hancock, Shalyn Stevens of Picayune,
Amanda Emerson of Sumrall, Whitney Waits of Oak Grove and Shannon Brown of Petal.
Back row - Student assistant coach Gage Whitten, manager Meagan Ledet of
Leakesville, head coach Leigh White, assistant coach Maghan James, Rachel Breland of
Poplarville, Kayla Johnston of Hancock, Hillary Dickens of Picayune, Alyssa Bradley of
Leakesville, Christina Hart of Slidell, La., Morghan Cuevas of Purvis and graduate assistant coach Kim Boutwell, student assistant Kirsten Perry of Sumrall, manager
Josh Reed of Picayune and Jay Lambert of Picayune.
Team photo by Mitch Deaver.
The DRAWL
March 2012 • Page 15
S P O R T S
Paint the Pearl Pink
Breast cancer survivor Sabrina Brown (second from left), a reading instructor at PRCC, holds up the $1,500 check she
received during the second-annual Breast Cancer Awareness softball doubleheader March 6 at Lady Wildcat Softball
Stadium in Poplarville. Joining her for the presentation were, from left, Dr. Adam Breerwood, vice-president for the
Poplarville campus, PRCC assistant softball coach Maghan James and PRCC head softball coach Leigh White.
Lady Wildcats
sweep 2 games
from Co-Lin
POPLARVILLE
- Pearl
River’s Lady Wildcats pulled
off 3-0, 3-1 victories over
Copiah-Lincoln in MACJC
South Division softball action
here Saturday to improve to
11-12 overall and 3-3 in division play.
Co-Lin fell to 12-14 and 3-7.
In the first game, Co-Lin
loaded the bases in the first
and second innings, but couldn’t push a run home.
PRCC starter Heather
Hester of Hancock County
High gave up three straight
base hits to Emily Smith, Josie
Porter, and Karla Beth Hux
open the first; but got out of
the jam when Carrie Moak
reached on a fielder’s choice
and Shelby Mitchell hit into a
double play.
In the bottom of the first,
Janessa Dedeaux of Poplarville High cracked a one-out
double to left field and Hester
followed with a line-drive single; but the duo were left
stranded.
After a scoreless third,
PRCC scored the game’s final
runs in the bottom of the
fourth
when
Amanda
Emerson of Sumrall reached
after being hit by a pitch,
E’Trareo Warren of Meridian
High reached on a fielder’s
choice, and scored when
Whitney Waits of Oak Grove
wound up at second after another fielder’s choice.
Dedeaux’s ensuing double
down the third-base line
scored Waits to make to 3-0
before Hester grounded to second to end the inning.
Co-Lin managed only three
base runners the rest of the
way.
Hester (4-2) got the win in
going the distance, giving up
six hits, striking out one, and
walking two.
Dedeaux’s two doubles (one
RBI) led the Lady Wildcats,
while Hart homered (one
RBI) and Hester and Waits
UPCOMING GAMES
March 30 - host Hinds, 3 p.m.
April 4 - at East Central
April 10 - at Southwest
April 14 - host Gulf Coast, noon
April 17 - at Co-Lin
April 20 - at Jones JC
April 26-28 - State playoffs
(one RBI) both had base hits.
Each team committed one
error in the game.
In the nightcap, Pearl River
threatened in the three innings.
In the bottom of the opening
frame, Waits and Dedeaux led
off with singles before Hester
reached on a fielder’s choice.
Alyssa Graeter followed with a
double to left before Dedeaux
was nailed at home for the second out. With runners at second and third, Brittany
LeBlanc out of North
Vermillion High in Lafayette,
La., grounded out to third to
end the inning.
In the bottom of the fourth,
The River cashed in.
Emerson led off with a single, Warren reached on an
error, and Waits reached on a
fielder’s choice. With runners
at first and third, Warren
scored off a double steal before
Dedeaux singled to left, setting the stage for Hester’s RBI
single. After Graeter singled
to load the bases, LeBlanc
reached on a fielder’s choice
and PRCC scored its final run
off a wild pitch.
Starter LeBlanc (3-4) picked
up the win in going the distance, giving up six hits.
Pearl River cracked a whopping 13 hits, led by Dedeaux’s
four-for-four effort (all singles), while Emerson and
Graeter both had doubles and
singles. Waits had two base
hits, while Hart, Hester (one
RBI), and LeBlanc all singled.
PRCC and Co-Lin eye a
doubleheader rematch April
17, in Wesson.
Above, Sabrina Brown throws out the first pitch in the second game East Central Community College. Right, Judy
McCrary of Petal, mom of PRCC freshman Neely McCrary, throws out the first pitch. Below, PRCC softball players, who
sold T-shirts to help the fundraiser, join the some of the many breast cancer survivors on hand for the festivities.
Photos by Mitch Deaver.
PRCC sophomore E’Trareo Warren of Meridian slides
safely into third base during South Division action against
East Central earlier this season. Photo by Mitch Deaver.
2012 softball action
Above, freshman Morghan
Cuevas awaits the pitch from
her infield position. Middle,
PRCC softball coach Leigh
White congratulates sophomore Janessa Dedeaux of
Poplarville after she hit a
home run in a game earlier
this season. Far right, freshman Neely McCrary of Petal
prepares to deliver a pitch to
an opposing batter.
Photos by
Mitch Deaver
March 2012 • Page 16
The DRAWL
S P O R T S
Spring football
A big victory
Above, sophomore quarterback Dylan Favre, who led St. Stanislaus to the 4A state title in
2009, looks for an open receiver during a spring-football scrimmage at PRCC. Favre tranferred to PRCC this semester from Mississippi State. Below, offensive lineman Levi Freeman
of Petal will be counted on to provide pass protec tion for the Wildcats in 2012, who open the
season with a road game at East Mississippi. Photos by Mitch Deaver.
Pearl River Community College cheerleaders celebrate the recent 81-80 Wildcat overtime
victory over Mississippi Gulf Coast at Perkinston. They are from left: Top - Tran Diep of
Biloxi and Alex White of Wiggins. Below - Colt Turnage of Sandy Hook and Collin Parker
of Oak Grove.
Echols
Johnson
Y. Johnson
Knowles
Wildcat
players
receive
honors
Four
Pearl
River
Community College standouts earned All-MACJC postseason basketball honors with
two members of the men’s
team copping All-South
Division first-team honors and
two women named to the AllSouth second-team.
Sophomore
Grambling
State
(La.)
transfers
Yondarius Johnson and Zane
Knowles were cited with
men’s honors, while sophomore Toy Johnson and freshman Shanta’ Echols copped
women’s honors.
Johnson, a 6-foot-3, 180pound guard from Plain
Dealing, La., and Knowles, a
6-foot-9, 235-pound center
from Nassau, Bahamas; played
key roles in the Wildcats’ 1512 season, which ended in the
Region 23 Tournament semifinals with a 65-52 loss to
eventual
champ
East
Mississippi.
PRCC’s men, which upset
then-10th-ranked East Miss
66-63 in the MACJC
Tournament semi-finals, were
defeated by Gulf Coast 61-56
in the state title bout.
Johnson, who hit a three
pointer at the buzzer to defeat
EMCC in the state semis, averaged a team-high 14.5 point
per game during the season,
as well as 4.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.2 steals.
Knowles hauled in a teambest 8.5 rebounds a game and
averaged a second-best 13.3
points per outing. He also averaged 1.5 blocks per game.
Echols, a 6-foot forward
from Sumrall High, and
Johnson, a 5-foot-6 point
guard from Pascagoula High,
were stalwarts on this past
season’s Lady Wildcat squad.
Echols averaged 10.9 points
a game, as well as a secondbest 6.3 rebounds; while
Johnson averaged team-high
averages in assists (6.2) and
steals (2.4) per game. Johnson
averaged 7.7 points and 3.9
boards per outing.
PRCC’s women ended their
season at 16-9 with a 62-48
loss to Holmes in the Region
23 Tournament quarter-finals.
Coach Richard Mathis completed his 21st season at Pearl
River, while women’s coach
Toby Bush finished his fourth.